HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0024.005 2012-2014 .•JMtV�f .
J YOSHIMOTO , N, ��'` Phone: (808)961-8272
Chair&Presiding Officer yR;,���► • Fax: (808)961-8912
Council District 2 -►e Email: .jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us
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HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawai`i
Hawai`i County Building
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Date: April 29, 2013 CO
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TO: Hawai`i County Council Members ,o c-<
Hawaii County Council 1—
FROM: J Yoshimoto, Chair
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Hawai`i County Council 0-
RE: Real Property Tax Work Group
Attached for review, letter from Nancy Crawford, Director of Finance, regarding Real
Property Tax Work Group.
Thank you,
JY/pf
Comm. No. `t •
Ref.To:
Ref. Date
Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
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William P. Kenoi Nancy E. Crawford
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p�,,�, V," Director
Mayor
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Deanna S. Sako
.;7�`` Deputy Director
County of Hawaii
Finance Department
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2103 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720
(808)961-8234 • Fax(808)961-8569
April 2, 2013
J. Yoshimoto Council Chair and
Members of the Hawaii County Council
Hawai'i County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Real Property Tax Work Group
On July 31, 2012 the County Council formed an Ad-Hoc Committee to review and
prioritize recommendations in a report from consultants contracted by the International
Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). That committee, consisting of Pete Hoffmann
and Brittany Smart submitted their final report to the Council on November 7, 2012.
The Ad-Hoc Committee supported recommendations in the report that a "Stakeholder
Committee" be formed to continue work on a number of the recommendations, including
review of the existing tax code to provide recommendations for improvements.
At the time of the IAAO review and subsequently the Department of Finance, Real
Property Tax Division (RPT) has continued to work on a number of areas covered by the
report. In addition to addressing a number of operational issues, the Division has initiated
information gathering for review of the County's agricultural property tax programs.
We have identified several members of the public who are interested and available to
participate as members of a new work group. Gary Takamura retired from the County in
2010 after many years as the Budget Administrator. He was a valuable resource in the
last RPT work group (2001-03) as a thoughtful, creative person who motivated us to
consider many perspectives. Stewart Hussey is a real estate appraiser. He has also
been very active in business and service groups, as well as the Hilo Downtown
Improvement Association. David Turner resides in rural Hamakua and was previously a
real estate broker. He was also an effective participant in Pete Hoffmann's recent Ad-Hoc
committee.
Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
J. Yoshimoto Council Chair and
Members of the Hawai'i County Council
April 2, 2013
Page 2
In order to be an effective committee, we feel it is important to limit the size of the group
to approximately ten core members. Our expectation is that as the work group addresses
various programs, such as agriculture, additional stakeholders will be included to provide
input and participate in the program review.
We are now ready to move forward with establishing a work group and initiating regular
meetings. It would be helpful to us at this point if the County Council made a
determination regarding which council members or staff they would like to have
participate.
Thank you for this opportunity to update the Council on our progress in establishing a
working team for real property tax code review.
Sincerely,
Nanc Crawford
Director of Finance