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HAWAII ISLAND REALTORS®
THE VOICE OF REAL ESTATE ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAI'I
1321 Kino'ole Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 (808)935-0827 Fax: (808) 935-4924
Email: admin@hawaiiislandrealtors.org Website: www.hawaiiislandrealtors.org
July 14, 2017
County Council Committee on Finance
C
West Hawaii Civic Center
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Building A "' ""4
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Kailua-Kona, Hawaii `nc-)
RE:Comm.347 and Comm.348 x)
Committee Meeting:Tuesday,July 17,2017,at 9:00 a.m.
Aloha Finance Committee Chair Maile David and Members of the Finance Committee,
I am Pat Halpern,2017 President,offering testimony on behalf of Hawaii Island REALTORS®,the voice of
real estate on Hawaii Island and its 600 members. Hawaii Island REALTORS°would like to voice our
support for the discussion proposed by Councilwoman Eileen O'Hara in Communications 347 and 348.
We support the formation of an ad hoc committee to consider changes to current real property tax
policies, practices, and procedures.We also support the idea of the County Council's participation in a
real property tax review working group of the real property tax division.
Hawaii Island REALTORS°acknowledges the County's fiscal responsibilities and its obligation to meet the
needs of a diverse constituency.We also recognize the County's need for increased revenue and the fact
- that Real Property Tax is one of very few taxation powers the County is allowed under Hawaii State Law:
Taxing real property as a revenue enhancer needs to be done in an equitable and fair manner.
While we may not fully understand the rules of Sunshine Law,we would like to see the council and
citizens participate together in determining how to improve our real property tax system.We continue
to advocate for proper oversight and review of homeowner exemptions and agricultural exemptions.
We also continue to ask the County Council and the Real Property Tax Office to revisit the Technical
Assistance Report Evaluating Property Tax Policies and Administrative Practices in Hawaii County, dated
March 5,2012,where forty(40) recommendations and possible solutions are presented, half of which
require Council action to initiate.
We thank you for your time and consideration in these matters and would like to extend the friendly
reminder that our association is always open and committed to working with our local leadership to
solve the difficult problems of our community.
Respectfully Submitted,
Pat Halpern,2017 President
Hawaii Island REALTORS° , I
m. No...__--.L.--.—
Ref. To. XV --
Ref, Dote JL 1 7 2011