BIL 218 Draft 01 2014-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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;MtY of N��.., • COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII BILL NO. 218 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 19, ARTICLE 7, SECTION 19-57 AND ADDING A NEW SECTION TO CHAPTER 19,ARTICLE 8 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM REAL PROPERTY TAX BY WAY OF DEDICATION OF LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL USE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. Findings and purpose. The purpose of the agricultural use assessment program is to encourage continual and committed agricultural use of lands, by affording those engaged in bona fide farming a substantial break in real property taxes. In order to better achieve this purpose, the Council finds it necessary to revise the nondedicated agricultural use assessment program and to establish a new short-term dedicated agricultural use assessment program. This ordinance provides an opportunity for those currently in the non-dedicated program seeking to participate in either the three year or ten year commercial agricultural use dedication programs to make any necessary adjustments in their farming operations prior to when the existing non- dedicated program is fully phased out on December 31, 2017. This ordinance also allows owners to remain in the revised non-dedicated program rather than participate in one of the commercial dedicated programs, but at seventy percent of the market value for the qualifying agricultural use land. SECTION 2. Chapter 19, article 7, section 19-57 of the Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), is amended to read as follows: "Section 19-57. Nondedicated agricultural use assessment. (a) [Lands classified and used fo -a ] Agricultural lands which are not dedicated pursuant to section 19-60, may be assessed for real property tax purposes as established in subsection [rte] (b) of this section, provided [and—shall—be subject to the following: