HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0722.038 2016-2018Murashige, Laura
From: Alexis Chapman <alexisapchapman@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2018 9:33 PM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Lauren Suzanne Zirbel
Subject: Bill 102 HFIA Testimony Opposition
Attachments: HFIA Testimony -Bill 102_HI County Surcharge oppose 2-6.pdf
Hello, please find attached Hawaii Food Industry Association Testimony in Opposition to Bill 102.
Please advise if any additional action is necessary for testimony to be accepted.
Thank you!
Alexis
AlexisAPChapman@gmail.com
info@hawaiifood.com
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TO:
Hawaii County Committee on Finance
Maile Medeiros David, Chair
Karen Eoff, Vice Chair
Beau 0shlro, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Chair
John Erickson, (Meadow Gold Dairies, Immediate Past Chair
Toby Taniguchi, KTA Superstores, slice Chair
Lauren Zirh 1, HFIA, Executive Direct -or
Joe Carter, Coca -Cala Battling of Hawaii, Secretaryl
Treasurer
Stan Brown, Acosta Bales & Marketing, Advisor
Paul Kosasa, ABC Stares, Advisor
John Shill, Rainbow Sales & Marketing, Advisor
Barrer Taniguchi, KTA Superstores, ,advisor
Derek Kurlsu, KTA Superstores, Advisor
FROM: HAWAII FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
Lauren Zirbel, Executive Director
DATE: February 6, 2018
TIME: 10am
PLACE: Conference Room
RE: Bill 102 Relating to Transportation Surcharge
Position: Oppose
The Hawaii Food Industry Association is comprised of two hundred member companies
representing retailers, suppliers, producers, and distributors of food and beverage related
products in the State of Hawaii.
HFIA is in opposition to this measure, as it will increase the price of groceries and other
necessities for the residents of Hawaii County. The state of Hawaii is one of only a handful of
states in which groceries are subject to the full tax rate. Residents of our state already pay 4%
tax on all purchases including the food we buy, and we have the highest cost of living of any
state in the entire country. An additional half a percent tax may not seem like a lot, but this
extra tax could add hundreds of dollars a year to Hawaii families' food bills alone, not to
mention all the other purchases it will effect. For many of the families living in Hawaii County,
especially those already subject to food insecurity, this is an added financial burden that they
may not be able to bear.
An added County Surcharge tax is not the right choice for the people of Hawaii, and we
strongly urge you to vote no on this measure. We thank you for the opportunity to testify.