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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0751.026 2014-2016 Apr 30, 2016 Council Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 • r-� a cm Aloha Council Member Onishi, CD -; I write to express my opposition to Bill 165 which would add a Count of Hawaii surcharge of one-half percent on top of the current 4.0 General Excise Tax. The General Excise Tax is not like a sales tax. A sales tax only covers -s' the final retail sale of goods -- it DOES NOT apply at the wholesale , 3 level, nor does it apply to services, rent, interest, commissions or other forms of income. cJ J General Excise Tax is applied to every economic activity imaginable. It DOES apply at the wholesale level, to services, rent, interest, commissions, and other forms of income. Let's not forget Hawaii's General Excise Tax is regressive. Lower-income families pay a larger percentage of their total income in General Excise Tax than other families that may be proportionately less. This tax hurts those that can least afford to pay, I hope the council members will make the appropriate choice by voting this down. Thank you for the opportunity to express my thoughts on this important matter in advance of Tuesday's vote. Mahalo, Ms. Karen Ostlie 77-6462 Pualani St Kailua Kona, HI 96740-9769 (808) 937-1174 starkaren@aol.com Comm. No. 151 Ref. To;__ . 1 Ref. Date MAY p3 OIR