Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0751.138 2014-2016 COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAII B CFEIVED - April 5,2016 Time I.00N""���� By tU Date 51.31/& W Testimony AGAINST Hawaii County Council Bill 165 to increase GET by.5% The only thing good about this bill is that it comes during an election year when the public can easily recall which elected voted to take easy money out of the taxpayer pocket. There is a public revolution going on in this country fueled by politician business as usual,disregard for the middle and lower class and distain for the political establishment. It was VERY clear we would eventually get here when the body of Mayors requested this of the State legislature as a chip in trade for TAT. It's become very easy to raise money by hitting the taxpayer but yet the rhetoric of solutions to cut government waste and to maintain or cut costs to the public come at a snail's pace if at all. It's a foregone conclusion borne out in history that the longer it takes to kick the can down the street the mushroom public will simply forget and fall in line. In 2013 the County Council accepted the Administration across the board 10%property tax increase by a 7-2 vote. County services had deteriorated due to the poor economy that affected us all.Credit Councilmember Margaret Wille who introduced a resolution to revisit this increase and seek tax reductions for the 2014 fiscal year.As an appeasement to the public,it passed 6-3 yet THIS WAS NEVER"revisited" by the Council as a whole and its now 2016-17. We are no longer in that economic slump yet the budget has had continual increases on this "temporary"tax benefitting a house of cards annual compounding. What about the highly touted review of the complex property tax structure started a few years ago as a way to bring more fairness into the process? WHAT EVER BECAME OF THAT? Bill 165 is portrayed,to raise funds for transportation projects. WHAT definition is presented to give us any confidence against fundraiding from some obscure use of the term? Remember needing to have a"like degree", remember the now defunct State Hurricane Fund,we all know about constant borrowing from social security now in distress,same with the US Postal Service. Shouldn't take much to come up with many more examples. As for transportation and other infrastructure needs,remember the FAIR SHARE system? How well is that working out?In recent history,then Councilmember Pete Hoffman tried in vain 2 times to get us out of this illegal system by introducing IMPACT FEES as a way for new development to do much better to help pay the costs of transportation and infrastructure impact to us. I worked on a 3`d iteration in 2014 while a Legislative Assistant as another attempt to raise needed funds for transportation and other impacts while recognizing and adjusting the costs to the smaller homebuilder. It's still remains in political limbo. I urge you not to fall prey to easy money at the cost of hitting us again especially for those who can least afford to pay for"transportation projects"while paying for their food,medical and other basic needs. Some solutions are briefly stated.Given a little cogent thinking there are many others at the tip of the iceberg. It just requires some political will. s•ectfully, 161.�3g etym. No. •l :: . '� Ref. To: I FI✓ Stephe-D. Lopez Ref. Date MAY 0 3 7nig Kailua Kona, HI. rilli KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LANCER AGENT RECORDED BUSINESS REPORT As of 02/29/2016 1.2 General Agents-Ranked by Lives Per 1000 Members LIVES PER 36 Month • GROSS NET 1000 Prem. RANK NAME STATES DIVISION MEMBERS LIVES LIVES MBRS NET PREMIUM Persistency 1 PFEIFER, KEVIN G FICF NE WESTC 6,778 124 107 18.34 93,058 94.51 2 PIERCE, KEVIN W FICF OK WESTC 8,066 124 110 15.37 68,664 87.01 3 RODRIGUEZ-ESPAI, MICHAEL A FICF, LUTCF PR WESTC 4,750 70 48 14.74 46,240 68.20 4 DOUGHERTY,TIMOTHY M FICF LA WESTC 10,371 113 108 10.96 107,331 98.34 5 WHITEAKER, KEITH S FICF CA WESTC 9,196 97 80 10.60 52,828 80.00 6 BOUCHARD, MARC G FIC,CLU, ChFC AB WESTC 18,202 191 181 10.54 172,377 94.01 7 RICHER, RAYMOND P FIC ON EASTC 17,365 162 158 9.38 178,826 90.98 8 RANGEL,THOMAS A FICF, LUTCF,CLU,CSA TX WESTC 16,359 138 129 8.46 125,988 90.54 9. KEARNEY,JAMES W FIC PA EASTC 12,883 107 104 8.38 138,967 90.35 10 CANTER, HARRY J FICF DC MD VA EASTC 17,637 144 131 8.21 94,850 85.50 11 SCHAFER,GREG A FIC, LUTCF KS WESTC 12,187 99 95 8.15 108,505 92.33 12 STRUEMPH,GARY V FICF MO EASTC 20,505 165 146 8.06 134,356 89.99 13 NIEMEYER,JEFFREY J FICF, LUTCF IL WESTC 11,437 92 82 8.04 101,312 90.36 14 LEWANS, MARK J FIC, CLU, CSA,CFP SK WESTC 10,522 84 72 8.00 85,396 94.19 15 VALENT,JAMES B FICF OH EASTC 13,118 103 98 7.85 54,308 86.91 16 DOLAN, PATRICK D FICF ND WESTC 14,012 109 104 7.80 60,795 80.00 17 MC GEEHAN, ROBERT J FICF • NJ EASTC 15,587 121 107 7.79 130,992 87.58 18 URRUTIA,SERGIO A FIC, LUTCF FL EASTC 13,319 102 60 7.70 151,417 79.71 19 OWENS,STEVEN R FICF, LUTCF CA WESTC 9,658 74 59 7.66 87,824 82.70 20 SEITZ, EARL G FICF, LUTCF CA NV WESTC 9,238 64 50 7.01 28,870 80.00 21 MARLOWE, ROBERT S FICF, LUTCF,CLU MD EASTC 15,090 105 85 6.96 150,897 89.16 22 BRITTEN,WILLIAM R FIC CO WY WESTC 13,587 94 93 6.93 119,889 80.00 23 MAHON,JOHN A FICF, LUTCF KS WESTC 14,235 96 79 6.81 64,790 92.96 24 SANGEMINO,SONNY M FIC ON EASTC 9,363 63 56 6.80 76,060 90.79 • AF045WEB Run:03-01-2016 17.52.15-Base Date:02-29-2016 Payroll Environment-PRC Page 1 of 6 jib. Kenai aims to raise p:: Y. ' `J Hawaii State Council x _. - - -- _ e westnavvaiitoday.com/sections,!nevvsllocal-nev;•silcenoi-aims-raise-property-taxes-10.html ;• Apps rZ. BOH MC d KaiserPay Online- Mortgage Pickleball Hawaii do Best free backup Library System Vivir e until reaction was mixed on first•ance at the revised bu,•et: FTifo Councilman Dennis Onishi said he was generally in favor of the amended plan because it addresses so man needs of the community,tie said he still has questions about exactly how much more the bu••et will cost and ether more can be • into accounts for information technol1.' and retirement benefits_ m tookin.• at how it raises taxes a little bit for- s i e OM*said.9t seems fan - oLao tax increases vuoutd mkt$750 to the annual tax fill for a$250,000hause in the hornet:maw class, Kenoi said it would add$341.88 to the residential lass second homes and rentals,$4-17.48 to commensal. .0.811 to industrial and$870.48 to hotels and resorts, though the tax ratewvould increase.for conservation land,properly ewners would actuall see an . •a :e- $75,12 annual decrease because • s•s, values continued to decrease last ear. Motorists would seetheir total state and local taxes and fees rise annually by$24:70 to$176.70,the first county increase since 2004.Bus riders would ; .$1 more a hi..with r:-e ". riders dr.. •ed$2 and seniors,students and sabled i • $1. South Kona/K.1u Councilwoman Brenda Ford said she was glad to see public safety and information technol+.e j beefed u•,and like Oriishie was also e l ed to see mine • in a into GASB 45 retirement benefits. sat Ford said she's opposed to property tax hikes until a task force con a fetes a stu a on some 40 ecommendations of an outside auditor- En particular,Ford said,the county could cut as past-due backlog from three years to two years.before#nredosure. actions are taken as a way to recoup money currently owed to the county_With a$17 million backis a in un' d SU e e r- taxes,that,could add a minimum:$5:million to the bu••et without raisin a taxes,she said:. SE ere are some tax increases 1 could su s .Ford said,'A • e u1,1 tax increase is not one of them.' H _ e-I •,:iYeer.,,.;to r+•' •n:.re• er-. sir ee1 . K,YI - -:.YY - -'3::I .a else +.r'� 12 - -- ri elghter positions_two new lifeguards and six new lifeguatd towers.:A new Waikoloa shuttle bus route would be •• as well as ex e• ded service to tuna and two clerks. Tr ,a mechanic and a mechanic's hal -r for Mass nsit. Fe [cT� Jl �eL_ •e5 Tea,i dee ®--ebl It ,- ,OQe!/4 e'e'e1. . ..n'e ,•�e ....t- .. -•, H, a of ons will be added at a-cost of'$182,U00 and c arni a Mustin a staff will take another$28.000; A6 a conern have become a-e .•e an worker e e o. e"- yKenoi said. . e Department of Parks and Recreation will get seven new stalfrang ng from a pool e . •to staff to hei•in senior • e 6,ams_Maintenance -• i•merit will also be beefed u•in the de r.,merit,. e budget also accounts for the ending of employee furloughs at a cost of$4.2 million.Salaries for United Public orkers,and Hawaii Government Employees Association union workers a-,+abated at the state level will be creased about 4 •accent,addin a another$2,9 million to the bus• Payments into GASB 45 will be increased to$3.1 miilon,after two years of no new payments gang into that account The coon -s debt service,the annual • meet on mane alias borrowed,increased$3.9 million to$39.2' inllliDn_ 0 Comments West Today Login c riStartl - Inbox-New Personal... I Kenoi aims to raise p... 1 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LANCER AGENT RECORDED BUSINESS REPORT As of 02/29/2016 1.2 General Agents-Ranked by Lives Per 1000 Members LIVES PER 36 Month GROSS NET 1000 Prem. RANK NAME STATES DIVISION MEMBERS LIVES LIVES MBRS NET PREMIUM Persistency 49 WILLIS,SCOTT M FICF LA WESTC 11,721 61 49 5.24 68,188 94.62 50 CHOATE, KEVIN D FIC VA EASTC 11,843 61 58 5.19 66,116 91.24 51 BORMANN, MICHAEL R FICF IA WESTC 10,173 52 52 5.14 34,496 86.17 52 BOUVIER, NEIL S FIC ON EASTC 8,337 42 35 5.13 43,199 92.78 53 CYBART, LLOYD J FICF MN WESTC 11,596 58 52 5.01 35,353 88.02 54 MURPHY, PATRICK M FIC OH EASTC 10,851 54 53 4.98 26,498 80.00 55 RACINE,THOMAS R FICF MA EASTC 10,686 52 37 4.87 93,334 92.74 56 ADAMS, ROBERT W FICF IL WESTC 12,738 61 60 4.81 65,524 90.35 57 YORK, MICHAEL G FICF MO EASTC 12,084 56 53 4.65 58,058 85.88 58 GUTIERREZ,CARLOS M FIC CA WESTC 10,621 49 27 4.63 28,430 80.00 59 LESAK, RICHARD J FICF TX WESTC 11,598 53 39 4.62 43,960 92.57 60 GITTO, ROBERT M FICF FL EASTC 12,749 58 42 4.60 69,739 87.01 61 COSSETTE,ANDRE R FIC MB WESTC 7,846 36 33 4.59 25,644 77.43 62 THELEN, DANIEL M FICF, CSA MI WESTC 13,120 .58 52 4.49 52,382 94.73 63 MICHLIK,STEPHEN S FIC TX WESTC 16,458 73 64 4.44 50,643 80.00 64 MITCHELL,JOHN J FICF PA EASTC 14,213 62 58 4.37 84,349 92.77 65 BONI, ROBERT J FICF SC EASTC 9,768 42 29 4.33 30,156 92.48 66 ULMER,JAMES E FICF, CLU VA EASTC 12,590 54 53 4.33 60,480 90.85 67 STICE,JOHN H FICF AL MS EASTC 15,398 65 51 4.26 68,809 95.13 68 LAROCQUE, ROLAND FIC QC QUEBC 13,373 56 52 4.19 28,507 73.66 69 MOLOSKY,JOSEPH M FICF MI WI WESTC 8,707 36 35 4.13 25,840 95.71 70 RASO, NATHAN E FICF AZ WESTC 15,934 65 59 4.12 46,576 80.00 71 RENNIE, LUKE J FICF, LUTCF MN WESTC 10,402 42 35 4.04 38,393 80.00 72 HUDEC, STEVE M FIC CA WESTC 9,334 37 37 3.98 39,569 89.14 AF045WEB Run:03-01-2016 17.52.15-Base Date:02-29-2016 Payroll Environment-PRC Page 3 of 6 Council Chair J Yoshimoto said there was no right or wrong answer. "Raising the rates provides us with more resources but it does come at a cost,"he said. "The key question for me and all of us is whether we can justify that." The increase was passed with little opposition from the public. On Thursday, only one testifier mentioned the increase.Tim Rees, a regular speaker before the council,said he believes his rate will be higher than what has been presented. A hearing on property taxes on May 14 attracted only seven speakers. The council did receive some opposition to the plan through written testimony. Fred Housel questioned whether the increase should occur when the economy is still recovering. "Hawaii Island's economy has shown slow improvement in the past year, but many homeowners are still underwater with their mortgages,"he wrote. The raise will bring tax revenue to$217.6 million, about$8.3 million less than when Mayor Billy Kenoi took office. On average,the impact for other rate classes will be$417.48 for commercial, $560.88 for industrial,and$870.48 for hotels and resorts. Owners of second homes and rentals will pay$314 more on average. While council members said the tax plan will help the county improve critical services, such as police and fire,the county also has higher expenses that need to be covered. Those include ending monthly furloughs, $4.2 million; raises for United Public Workers and Hawaii Government Employees Association members, $2.9 million; a$3.9 million increase in debt services; and payments to the GASB 45 employee retirement benefit fund at$3.1 million. Email Tom Callis at KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LANCER AGENT RECORDED BUSINESS REPORT As of 02/29/2016 1.2 General Agents-Ranked by Lives Per 1000 Members LIVES PER 36 Month GROSS NET 1000 Prem. RANK NAME STATES DIVISION MEMBERS LIVES LIVES MBRS NET PREMIUM Persistency 25 PHELPS,ANTHONY R FIC AR WESTC 7,455 50 48 6.79 23,628 80.00 26 SPINELLI, GEORGE A FICF, LUTCF,CLU, CSA KS WESTC 11,007 74 73 6.76 90,933 94.57 27 KENNEDY, GABE C FIC OR WA WESTC 10,339 69 67 6.67 68,740 92.06 28 BEEBE,GREGORY J FICF SD WESTC 8,473 56 50 6.66 35,837 96.67 29 CAPOBIANCO, MICHAEL R FIC MA EASTC 10,526 68 62 6.46 63,290 86.80 30 MC CABE,JAMES F FICF NM WESTC 9,158 59 56 6.44 41,652 84.80 31 SPINELLI,JOSEPH J FICF, LUTCF,CLU FL EASTC 13,718 87 79 6.35 92,577 90.23 32 SEGUIN,GILLES FIC NL NS EASTC 10,050 62 51 6.21 40,510 80.00 33 SUPAK,THOMAS R FICF, LUTCF, CSA TX WESTC 13,286 81 78 6.16 80,592 94.83 34 SCHACHLE, DANIEL E FICF TN VA KY EASTC 11,633 71 61 6.15 73,977 90.10 35 GOEDTKE, DAVID A FIC MN WESTC 8,295 50 50 6.03 49,353 94.10 36 LEE WAH, RICHARD FIC BC YT WESTC 11,621 69 64 6.00 101,572 97.71 37 DI CALOGERO,JOSEPH P FIC MA NH VT EASTC 22,594 133 120 5.91 160,721 89.79 38 MADORE, MARC L FIC,CLU,ChFC, CSA,CFP ON EASTC 10,988 64 61 5.91 80,638 90.17 39 LACHANCE, MARTIN F FIC QC QUEBC 11,349 67 65 5.90 37,460 89.53 40 HUARD, KENNETH J FICF CO UT WY WESTC 10,021 59 46 5.89 29,826 89.31 41 KEHOE, PAUL D FICF IL WESTC 12,063 71 68 5.89 71,895 78.20 42 DUVAL, DANIEL R FIC ON EASTC 9,410 55 52 5.84 62,518 88.32 43 MC DONOUGH, MICHAEL S FIC GA EASTC 17,328 99 86 5.71 69,155 93.00 44 CABRAL,TODD L FICF CA NV WESTC 13,326 75 62 5.63 91,020 • 92.36 45 LABRECHE, BRENT J FICF FL EASTC 13,112 71 47 5.42 73,016 91.20 46 BACA, BEN FICF, LUTCF CA HI WESTC 20,260 106 74 5.26 78,942 89.71 47 SEDIVY,TIMOTHY G FICF, LUTCF IL WESTC 11,035 58 48 5.26 40,139 80.00 48 VALDEZ,JASON J FIC NJ EASTC 9,338 49 44 5.25 50,350 80.00 AF045WEB Run:03-01-2016 17.52.15-Base Date:02-29-2016 Payroll Environment-PRC Page 2 of 6 Tribune-Herald staff writer Homeowners will have to open their wallets a little wider this time to balance Hawaii County's budget. The County Council approved a double-digit raise in property taxes Thursday—the first increase in three years— citing a need to provide better services in areas that have taken a hit following the last recession. The higher taxes, proposed by the administration,will range from 10.2 percent to 10.8 percent and provide the county with$18.8 million in additional revenue. For the owner of a$250,000 home,that means an extra$150 a year. The increase, adopted in a 7-2 vote, also came with a gesture of goodwill. Noting a reluctance to support the increase,the council also passed a resolution that states it will seek tax reductions for the 2014 fiscal year. The tax increase is part of the 2013 fiscal year that begins July 1. Though not legally binding, Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille,who introduced the resolution, said it will demonstrate a commitment to keep the tax burden as low as possible. "What it shows is our intent to make a real effort... to cut expenses and to explore them comprehensively and to also look at different streams of income,"she said. The resolution passed 6-3. Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter,who voted for the resolution, said before the vote she had concerns that it may set an expectation that can't be met. "I don't like giving people false hope,"she said. che council is expected to form a task force to recommend changes to the property tax code.Several council T members indicated this will help keep taxes under control. Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha and Puna representatives Greggor Ilagan and Zendo Kern voted against the resolution. Voting against the tax increase were Ilagan and Ka'u/Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford. Ford,who voted against the previous increase in 2010, said it will put more homeowners into foreclosure. "Three years ago we heard the same story,"she said. "And we're still where we are." Ilagan kept his decision close to his chest until the vote. "I just want the public to know that my final decision will come out from my heart,"he said."What I really want to do is make the right decision based on my integrity." Council members voting for the increase noted they were largely supported by their constituents who feel the need to maintain or improve services. "It's a difficult decision but my community demands that these services be met,"Kanuha said, referring to roads and parks. April 5,2016 Testimony AGAINST Hawaii County Council Bill 165 to increase GET by.5% The only thing good about this bill is that it comes during an election year when the public can easily recall which elected voted to take easy money out of the taxpayer pocket. There is a public revolution going on in this country fueled by politician business as usual,disregard for the middle and lower class and distain for the political establishment. It was VERY clear we would eventually get here when the body of Mayors requested this of the State legislature as a chip in trade for TAT. It's become very easy to raise money by hitting the taxpayer but yet the rhetoric of solutions to cut government waste and to maintain or cut costs to the public come at a snail's pace if at all. It's a foregone conclusion borne out in history that the longer it takes to kick the can down the street the mushroom public will simply forget and fall in line. In 2013 the County Council accepted the Administration across the board 10%property tax increase by a 7-2 vote. County services had deteriorated due to the poor economy that affected us all.Credit Councilmember Margaret Wille who introduced a resolution to revisit this increase and seek tax reductions for the 2014 fiscal year.As an appeasement to the public,it passed 6-3 yet THIS WAS NEVER"revisited" by the Council as a whole and its now 2016-17. We are no longer in that economic slump yet the budget has had continual increases on this "temporary"tax benefitting a house of cards annual compounding. What about the highly touted review of the complex property tax structure started a few years ago as a way to bring more fairness into the process? WHAT EVER BECAME OF THAT? Bill 165 is portrayed,to raise funds for transportation projects. WHAT definition is presented to give us any confidence against fundraiding from some obscure use of the term? Remember needing to have a"like degree", remember the now defunct State Hurricane Fund,we all know about constant borrowing from social security now in distress,same with the US Postal Service. Shouldn't take much to come up with many more examples. As for transportation and other infrastructure needs,remember the FAIR SHARE system? How well is that working out? In recent history,then Councilmember Pete Hoffman tried in vain 2 times to get us out of this illegal system by introducing IMPACT FEES as a way for new development to do much better to help pay the costs of transportation and infrastructure impact to us.I worked on a 3`d iteration in 2014 while a Legislative Assistant as another attempt to raise needed funds for transportation and other impacts while recognizing and adjusting the costs to the smaller homebuilder. It's still remains in political limbo. I urge you not to fall prey to easy money at the cost of hitting us again especially for those who can least afford to pay for"transportation projects"while paying for their food, medical and other basic needs. Some solutions are briefly stated.Given a little cogent thinking there are many others at the tip of the iceberg. It just requires some political will. • -s•ectfully, Stephe D. Lopez Kailua Kona, HI. April 5,2016 Testimony AGAINST Hawai'i County Council Bill 165 to increase GET by.5% The only thing good about this bill is that it comes during an election year when the public can easily recall which elected voted to take easy money out of the taxpayer pocket. There is a public revolution going on in this country fueled by politician business as usual,disregard for the middle and lower class and distain for the political establishment. It was VERY clear we would eventually get here when the body of Mayors requested this of the State legislature as a chip in trade for TAT. It's become very easy to raise money by hitting the taxpayer but yet the rhetoric of solutions to cut government waste and to maintain or cut costs to the public come at a snail's pace if at all. It's a foregone conclusion borne out in history that the longer it takes to kick the can down the street the mushroom public will simply forget and fall in line. In 2013 the County Council accepted the Administration across the board 10%property tax increase by a 7-2 vote. County services had deteriorated due to the poor economy that affected us all.Credit Councilmember Margaret Wille who introduced a resolution to revisit this increase and seek tax reductions for the 2014 fiscal year.As an appeasement to the public,it passed 6-3 yet THIS WAS NEVER"revisited" by the Council as a whole and its now 2016-17. We are no longer in that economic slump yet the budget has had continual increases on this "temporary"tax benefitting a house of cards annual compounding. What about the highly touted review of the complex property tax structure started a few years ago as a way to bring more fairness into the process? WHAT EVER BECAME OF THAT? Bill 165 is portrayed,to raise funds for transportation projects. WHAT definition is presented to give us any confidence against fundraiding from some obscure use of the term? Remember needing to have a"like degree", remember the now defunct State Hurricane Fund,we all know about constant borrowing from social security now in distress,same with the US Postal Service. Shouldn't take much to come up with many more examples. As for transportation and other infrastructure needs, remember the FAIR SHARE system? How well is that working out?In recent history,then Councilmember Pete Hoffman tried in vain 2 times to get us out of this illegal system by introducing IMPACT FEES as a way for new development to do much better to help pay the costs of transportation and infrastructure impact to us. I worked on a 3'd iteration in 2014 while a Legislative Assistant as another attempt to raise needed funds for transportation and other impacts while recognizing and adjusting the costs to the smaller homebuilder. It's still remains in political limbo. I urge you not to fall prey to easy money at the cost of hitting us again especially for those who can least afford to pay for"transportation projects"while paying for their food,medical and other basic needs. Some solutions are briefly stated.Given a little cogent thinking there are many others at the tip of the iceberg. It just requires some political will. •-s.ectfully, e,depree, Stephe D. Lopez Kailua Kona, HI. April 5,2016 Testimony AGAINST Hawai'i County Council Bill 165 to increase GET by.5% The only thing good about this bill is that it comes during an election year when the public can easily recall which elected voted to take easy money out of the taxpayer pocket. There is a public revolution going on in this country fueled by politician business as usual,disregard for the middle and lower class and distain for the political establishment. It was VERY clear we would eventually get here when the body of Mayors requested this of the State legislature as a chip in trade for TAT. It's become very easy to raise money by hitting the taxpayer but yet the rhetoric of solutions to cut government waste and to maintain or cut costs to the public come at a snail's pace if at all. It's a foregone conclusion borne out in history that the longer it takes to kick the can down the street the mushroom public will simply forget and fall in line. In 2013 the County Council accepted the Administration across the board 10%property tax increase by a 7-2 vote. County services had deteriorated due to the poor economy that affected us all.Credit Councilmember Margaret Wille who introduced a resolution to revisit this increase and seek tax reductions for the 2014 fiscal year.As an appeasement to the public,it passed 6-3 yet THIS WAS NEVER"revisited" by the Council as a whole and its now 2016-17. We are no longer in that economic slump yet the budget has had continual increases on this "temporary"tax benefitting a house of cards annual compounding. What about the highly touted review of the complex property tax structure started a few years ago as a way to bring more fairness into the process? WHAT EVER BECAME OF THAT? Bill 165 is portrayed,to raise funds for transportation projects. WHAT definition is presented to give us any confidence against fundraiding from some obscure use of the term? Remember needing to have a"like degree", remember the now defunct State Hurricane Fund,we all know about constant borrowing from social security now in distress,same with the US Postal Service. Shouldn't take much to come up with many more examples. As for transportation and other infrastructure needs,remember the FAIR SHARE system? How well is that working out?In recent history,then Councilmember Pete Hoffman tried in vain 2 times to get us out of this illegal system by introducing IMPACT FEES as a way for new development to do much better to help pay the costs of transportation and infrastructure impact to us.I worked on a 3`d iteration in 2014 while a Legislative Assistant as another attempt to raise needed funds for transportation and other impacts while recognizing and adjusting the costs to the smaller homebuilder. It's still remains in political limbo. I urge you not to fall prey to easy money at the cost of hitting us again especially for those who can least afford to pay for"transportation projects"while paying for their food,medical and other basic needs. Some solutions are briefly stated.Given a little cogent thinking there are many others at the tip of the iceberg. It just requires some political will. • -s•ectfully, j Stephe D.Lopez Kailua Kona, HI.