HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0751.110 2014-2016 (- P/Fc,
Murashige, Laura
From: Eoff, Karen
Sent: Friday,April 29, 2016 3:26 PM
To: Patricia Collier
Cc: Council Testimony
Subject: RE: URGENT Vote No to Bill 165
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Karen Eoff `V
Hawai'i County Council
District 8, North Kona
808-323-4280 work
808-938-3580 cell
Original Message
From: HAR Government Affairs Action Center [mailto:har@hawaiirealtors.com]
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2016 2:22 PM
To: Eoff, Karen
Subject: URGENT Vote No to Bill 165
Apr 29, 2016
Chair and Presiding Officer Karen Eoff Com No. 151111D
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720 Ref. Date MAY 0 3 2016
Aloha Chair and Presiding Officer Eoff,
I write to express my opposition to Bill 165 which would add a County of Hawaii surcharge of one-half percent on top of
the current 4.0 General Excise Tax.
While I recognize and appreciate the need to raise additional revenues for the County of Hawaii, I strongly believe the
proposal is extreme and would have an adverse and negative impact on Hawaii's hard working families, homess, rentals,
and our communities.
The General Excise Tax is not like a sales tax. A sales tax only covers the final retail sale of goods--it DOES NOT apply at
the wholesale level, nor does it apply to services, rent, interest, commissions or other forms of income.
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.
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A business that is making little or no profit pays little or no income tax. In contrast,the General Excise Tax is imposed on
every dollar that the business takes in,even if there is no net profit after expenses are paid.
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.
I urge the County Council to reconsider and VOTE NO on BILL 165 this Tuesday.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my thoughts on this important matter in advance of Tuesday's vote.
Mahalo,
Ms. Patricia Collier
69-200 Pohakulana PI
Apt F5
Waikoloa, HI 96738-6723
pat.collier@aol.com
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