HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0290.010 2016-2018 P/Coum en.
.IES. 2.12-11
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Murashige, Laura
From: Mark Powell <markp50@att.net> .,,, .cam.-
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2017 7:30 PM = 'C
To: Council Testimony ""°°
Subject: All New Taxes Opposed as WrittenNIc ..<
Mayor Harry Kim &County Council, v
✓ Gas Tax CO _..
Raising the gas tax may sound good but there are some major problems. Parts of the mainland already figured
it out. Because of Electric, Hybrid, other alternate fuel cars, motorcycles, mopeds, along with much higher fuel
efficiency vehicles,the revenue from gas taxes has gone down. Also the higher gas taxes hurts everyone who
has to drive to and from work, drive for a living, service providers, construction, and higher delivery cost of
everything.
Yes the need for more revenue is there and well documented. A better way is the County should pass a
separate County vehicle registration fee on top of the license fee. An example is to raise the fee by$20 for all
vehicles under 8,600 lbs., from 8,601 lbs to 26,000 lbs. $30, and all higher GVWR vehicles $50,the more
weight a vehicle weighs the more road damage may occur. This way the County will have funds to fix our
roads in a more fair equally shared way.
Property Tax
Yes the County needs more funds to operate because the State has given raises across the board to workers
without considering what the Counties may say, so maybe the State should fund those unfunded liabilities and
not the County because the State keeps the money that they want which is unfair. Don't get me wrong, our
workers deserve a raise for their hard work but also have to be more efficient which sometimes cost more to
get there, (Bus service or lack of, better equipment, streamline the government processes). Raising everyone's
taxes who live here full time seems unfair, (you get a raise but have to pay more in property Taxes and Fuel,
and you don't get ahead).
Another way, raise the property taxes on those who don't live here full time or just invest, ie. There are homes
in the northern part of the County that rent out for more than $35,000 per week and they are booked most of
the time. Another example is a home in Alii Heights rents out for$250 per night and is owned by a mainlander
over 60 and gets tax breaks, by the way it is illegal to rent vacation homes there per there CC&R's, they get
around it by saying it's a family member for the week, double their taxes and no tax breaks. Start our own
County room fee (not a tax, $5.00/ night) at the hotels and resorts paid to the county so the State can't get
their hands on it. Go after the State for our fair share.
Noiati0,1 D-
1 Ref. To: 11
,� F � MAY 3 I
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1. Go after the State for our share of the room tax. Hold the State accountable.
2. No property tax breaks for anyone who doesn't live here full time (8 months per year), capture all the
short term vacation (less than 3 months) rental fees/taxes. Raise the resort fees/room fee to go to the
County and not the State.
3. Raise only the property taxes two times higher for all non-full time residents, and no property tax
breaks.
4. Charge a County vehicle Fee, do not raise gas tax because it doesn't work and hurts us in many
different ways including food, goods and services, and County construction cost.
5. Make the County process and jobs more efficient on a daily basis
6. Have Public Employees pay more toward their retirements.
7. Raise the real estate transfer fee.
John Powell
Kaila-Kona
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