HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GREDC 004 2015/11/17 (2014-2016)OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY
Meeting: Council — December 2, 2015
Action: Postponed indefinitely
Re: Res. 339-15; Comm. 559; (2014-2016 term); GREDC-4 (not adopted)
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DATE: November 17, 2015 Re: Comm. No. 559/Res. No. 339-15
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 9:51 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development, to which was referred
Resolution No. 339-15, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 339-15, transmitted by Council Member Margaret Wille, via Communication
No. 559, dated October 29, 2015, urges the Hawaii State Legislature to amend Act 241, relating
to medical marijuana, to establish a county sales tax on medical marijuana sold at dispensaries.
The amendment would allow each county, by ordinance, to impose a sales tax of up to five
percent of the gross sales of any medical marijuana dispensary located within the county, which
may be collected on a quarterly or annual basis.
There were four people who testified on this resolution. One person from each of the following
locations: Hilo, Ka`u, Kohala, Kona, and Pahoa.
Both Resolution No. 338-15 and Resolution No. 339-15 were read in. A motion to approve
Resolution No. 339-15 was made by Council Member Wille and seconded by Council Member
Paleka.
Council Member Wille expressed her thoughts regarding the tax issue. She said she's trying to
make a statement that the burden is on the county. It doesn't say there will be a charge of five
percent but it gives that option. At least this way, they recognize that there is going to be costs
for the counties and maybe there should be some funding for the additional impacts to the
counties. The big picture is trying to get us into the conversation on issues like location
decisions; and social, cultural and fiscal impacts.
Council Member Paleka stated it would be prudent to reserve the right for an appropriate tax and
he would support reserving the right to levy some type of compensation to the county because of
the responsibility and impact.
GREDC Rept. No.: 4
GREDC-4 Page 2 November 17, 2015
Your Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development is in accord with the
purpose and intent of Resolution No. 339-15, and recommends its adoption.
de
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS AND ECO OMIC DEVELOPMENT
DENNIS "FRESH" ONISHI, CHAIR
GREDC REPORT NO.: 4
ADOPTED:
AYES NOES ABS EX
CHUNG
X
DAVID
X
EOFF
X
ILAGAN
X
KANUHA
X
ONISHI
X
PALEKA
X
POINDEXTER
X
WILLE
X
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS AND ECO OMIC DEVELOPMENT
DENNIS "FRESH" ONISHI, CHAIR
GREDC REPORT NO.: 4
ADOPTED: