HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0614.003 2012-2014 Page 1 of 2
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Murashige, Laura L{ rort,1. �ci4
From: larry gering [dktrg1 @hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2014 11:24 AM COUNTY CLERK
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us COUNTY OF HAWAII
Subject: bil 185 Time@!/3o I B >
in case I do not get to the meeting, here are some of my thots Date FFU1J
regarding Bill 185, reducing property taxes for organic farmers. `��,�
larry gering, hilo,hawaii
1.Organic farming is a choice, as is selling the many items in
a grocery store so should a hardware store get tax benefits
over a grocery store because it sells non-groceries: BOTH are
labor intensive...
2. I don't think that reducing property taxes will "encourage" people,
especially youg people, to get involved in farming when organic
is the only option
3. Throughout all of the testimoney about GMO vs organic there was
never any proof that organic food had more nutritional value or was
less dangerous to eat than GMO and they have sat side-by-side on
store shelves for 17 years in Hawaii so why is this even an issue ???
so why give a break to organic farmers when there is no proof that
their more expensive products provide any greater nutrition ???
At a store I saw organic next to GMO and the organic item was $2.00
more 111111 why the difference, maybe GREED because there is
ZERO PROOF that the organic product is any more nutritional or
that GMO is life-threatning plain GREED...and the organic food
store owners love your mentality Hawaii County Council - PATHETIC...
4. GMO is just as labor intensive as organic because GMO products
have to be hand-picked just like organic and where is the equality??
5. If the organic certification costs more then that is the cost of doing
business just like being a certified Cadillac or Mercedes Benz mechanic
and you don't hear these business people clamoring for tax reductions
altho a reduction in business fees would indeed promote the business
of being a mechanic, as would reducing taxes on all businesses, but
councils don't think about reducing because they have little business
acumen....and very little inclination to promote the existing businesses
that are the engine for economy on the island.
6. A better way to promote farming and all businesses is to reduce the 4 c/
taxes and cost of permits so that businesses have extra money to
Comm. No.
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Ref. Date F t 3 0'4 2 014
2/3/2014
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expand and improve production, add more land to their production and
hire more employees, not reduce property taxes.
mahalo
thank you for your time
larry gering
hilo, Hawaii
c
2/3/2014