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Murashige, Laura
From: Kenneth Deehr <kdeehr@hawaiiantel.net> 7T6 `,1:�.` `�a n:
Sent: Monday,April 18, 2016 8:40 AM
56
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Raising County GET
Aloha all,
Since reading the article on attempting to raise the GET in Hawaii county, of course released on a weekend, I feel
compelled to voice my objections to this ill advised attempt to gain more money from an already over taxed and fee
burdened electorate. Some of you will not be returning to the council for various reasons so have no reservation in
pushing this forward.
However,taxing everything in sight and especially burdening older citizens,the sick and the poor on fixed incomes
seems regressive and unfair at best. This mayor and council have borrowed and spent so much that the debt won't be
paid off until 2035 and cannot borrow more without negatively impacting the county's credit rating! This will leave the
next administration hogtied unless they approve what you propose to enact. Several years ago, car registration and
weight taxes were increased on the county level in order to do the very things this increase is supposed to do;where did
the money go? Three weeks ago the HIDOT attempted to raise gas tax and registration but were sternly told by the
Transportation Committee,to look inward to improve efficiencies before asking for more. I would tell you the same.
Those members who think this is a better idea than raising property taxes are possibly not aware that the county will be
taking in more in that tax just because of increased market values and valuations. Mine alone has gone up$40,000 in
one year! (Are we in another bubble?) Property tax revenues for Hawaii county are pegged to rise 7.9%to
$265,000,000! Saying this a home rule issue and that it is "like a trump card" is offensive. People's lives are not a card
game, so many are on the brink and living from paycheck to paycheck every day.
The Tax Foundation of Hawaii has said, as we all know,that, "The GET is a regressive tax—hitting lower-income people
harder because it is applied uniformly,thus taking a larger percentage from low income people than high-income
individuals. It's also broad-based, applied to goods, services, rents, royalties and interest. It's the broadest tax in the
country." They further say, "that governments must make sure they are operating as efficiently as possible before
raising taxes. It's a good idea to look internally before going to the taxpayers and saying, 'Give us more and more and
more.'" I wholeheartedly agree, especially when I witness the time and money wasted on county projects... $950,000
for a brand new gym floor(original and replacement). Or the price of revamping Kukuihaele Park, with items not wanted
by the local population, originally costing$2,500,000 and increasing to $5,000,000, and not included in the$100,000,000
bond floated last year,just more added debt! I would add that as of today, the State is reporting an increase of 5.7%
GET collected for the year so far.
It has been noted that so far only trade unions and government officials are in favor of this measure. The Chamber of
Commerce of Hawaii, the Hawaii Association of Realtors, many citizens and I are opposed. I have spoken to many
people on social media in the 2 weeks since this was proposed and no one is in favor.
I hope everyone gets to read this and weigh it thoughtfully before making a decision that would burden citizens even
heavier than they already are.
I thank you for listening and your time. 151
Comm: No.
Ref. To: '
L
Ken Deehr
Leilani Estates Ref. Date APR 1 9 2010
Pahoa
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