HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0923.017 2014-2016 Pitt
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Murashige, Laura
From: Dale Sandlin <dale@hicattle.org>
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2016 10:32 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Hawaii Cattlemen's Association
Attachments: HCA comments on proposed amendments to Bill 218.pdf
Please see the attached comments regarding the proposed amendments to Bill No. 218; Relating to Exemptions from
Real Property Tax by Way of Dedication of Land for Agricultural Use.
Dale Sandlin ( Managing Director
Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc. I Hawaii Beef Industry Council
9 0, Box 437199 ( l amuefa, HI 96743 .
T: (808) 885-5599 ! C: (979) 571-7563 v�
dale@hicattle.org www.HlCattle.org
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HAWAII(CA'ff LEEMEN'SS ASSOCIATION
Re: Proposed Amendments to Bill No. 218; Relating to Exemptions from Real Property Tax by
Way of Dedication of Land for Agricultural Use
Chair Eoff,Vice Chair Poindexter and Committee Members,
The Hawaii Cattlemen's Association (HCA) represents ranchers on Hawaii Island and we have over
60 members. We are organized under the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council(HCC),the statewide umbrella
organization comprised of the four county level Cattlemen's Associations. There are approximately
600,000 acres of pasture/grazing lands on the Island of Hawaii, and HCA members manage the
majority of this acreage. The cattle industry in Hawaii strives diligently to help the state meet our
food sustainability goals on a daily basis.
We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the amendments to Bill 218.
We support the goals of Bill 218 in trying to strike the difficult balance between collecting
sustainable Real Property Tax revenues while continuing to encouraging farmers and ranchers and
preserving agricultural lands.
We support the intent and framework of Bill 218 by modifying the current non-dedicated program
and adding a 3rd option for farmers and ranchers-currently being proposed as a 3-year dedication
program.
As such we offer the following comments:
Section 2 -Nondedicated agricultural use assessment
- We agree with the expanded definition of non-dedicated properties to include"pasture left
fallow for a customary period of time" and we would like to see that addition to the definition
in the 3-year dedicated program as well.
- We feel the proposed rates of the non-dedicated properties are too high and should not be
based on market value. Non-dedicated properties should be taxed higher than the current
rates,but there is still significant value of well-managed open space to the public and this
management needs to be encouraged, even if it does not involve a bona fide agricultural
endeavor. The proposed rate increase simply is not in line with the demand these properties
create for county services.
- We are a proponent of on-site visits and feel every qualifying property owner for any
agricultural dedicated program must give county inspectors permission to access their
property. These inspections should be conducted every 5-7 years,however the property
owner must be given prior notice.
Section 3 -Short term commercial agricultural use dedication
- We agree that any qualifying property should hold to a minimum income producing
benchmark,but encourage more discussion on what that benchmark should be.
- The definition of a qualifying short term commercial agricultural use property should be
expanded to include smaller parcels committed to a larger grazing regime,ie Kohala Ranch and
Waiki'i Ranch.
10-year dedicated property
If the county council is revising agricultural dedication programs,we feel the 10-year agricultural
program should be revised as well.
- To further encourage long term dedication to agriculture,rates for 10-year dedicated
properties should be lowered
- Revisit the disqualification of unfenced properties as properties that qualify for a 10-year
dedication program. Many larger mauka ranch properties are in bona fide grazing regimes,but
the upper boundaries of the pasture are unfenced. Historically,cattle in these upper areas are
not controlled by fences,but rather by opening gates and closing water troughs,forcing cattle
to move to lower paddocks.
We appreciate the council's work on Bill 218 and feel many of these amendments are moving
toward the goal of updating the current ordinance while continuing to support agriculture and
preserve agricultural properties. Stakeholders. consultants and members of the public are
actively engaged and positive strides are being made,however we strongly feel it would be
premature to approve Bill 218 as amended. We encourage further workshops and dialogue
prior to finalizing this important bill.
Sincerely,
c71,ALI (n649j1dL--
Sara Moore
President
Hawaii Cattlemen's Association