HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0751.133 2014-2016 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
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RESORT ASSOCIATION
April 19, 2016
Karen Eoff,Chair
Committee on Finance
Hawaii County Council
West Hawaii Civic Center
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway,Bldg.A
Kailua-Kona,HI 96740
Testimony in Opposition to Bill 165—GET Surcharge
Dear Chair Eoff and Members of the Hawaii County Council,
We are writing to express our opposition to Bill 165,proposing a Hawaii County surcharge on the GET. We believe
that increasing the GET would have negative impacts on residents of and visitors to our beautiful island.
Because the GET is collected on sales of all food,merchandise,medicine and services, it will negatively impact our
most vulnerable residents,those with limited and fixed incomes.
In order to maintain our competitive position in the marketplace,we must be cognizant of all of the taxes and fees
levied on our visitors—from the Transient Accommodations Tax(TAT),to the GET,to taxes and fees on rental cars
and airline tickets.The visitor industry generates more than$15 billion annually statewide,and is one of our island's
primary economic drivers. Our visitors are very savvy, actively shopping our prices and fees against our competition
when making decisions where to travel.Financial publications such as Forbes Magazine regularly run articles
showing visitors the cities and communities with the heaviest tax burdens.We don't want to add Hawaii Island to that
list.
We appreciate your deliberation on this important issue and thank you for the opportunity to submit our testimony.
Sincerely,,
41715111°
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Comm. No
" Steph ie Donoho Ref. To:
Administrative Director f nate APR 1 9 2016
Patrick Fitzgerald,Hualalai Resort Takashi Yamakawa,Mauna Lani Resort
Kelley Cosgrove,The Fairmont Orchid,Hawai'i Scott Head,Waikoloa Land Company
Simon Amos,Hilton Waikoloa Village Denise Hill,Hualalai Resort
Rodney Ito,Mauna Lani Bay Hotel&Bungalows Robert Whitfield,Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Steve Yannarell,Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort& Spa Peter Thoene,Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Craig Anderson,Mauna Kea Resort and Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel
PO Box 6991, Kamuela, HI 96743*(808)747-5762*kohalacoastresortassnAgmail.com*www.kohalacoastresorts.com