HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0722.051 2016-2018From:
Gordon Takaki
To:
Council Testimony
Subject:
Bill 102 GET Increase
Date:
Friday, February 16, 2018 9:48:16 AM
Attachments:
GET Testimony.docx
Attached is my testimony in opposition to County BiII102 Increase to the General Excise Tax. I am
strongly opposed to the increase.
(7 ord.o,Taka,IGl/
PO Box 4425
Hilo, HI 96720
Tel: (808)430'5720 -10
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Ref. T®:
Ref. D®te FSB
I am opposed to the proposed increase to the GET and asked that the Hawaii
County Council vote NO.
It seems that whenever a government is faced with a budget deficit, the
immediate solution seems to be to raise taxes or fees. A solution that is
often not immediately recommended is furlough or hiring freeze.
It's certainly not the most popular thing to do, especially in an election year.
No employer wants to lay off employees, but sometimes it's necessary. The
reason given why it can't be done is due to the collective bargaining process.
Perhaps, but anticipated budget deficit should not be a surprise to state or
county administrators and furloughs should have been discussed months (if
not years) prior. Going in with a $20M deficit should not have been a
surprise to Mayor Kim. After all during his 8 years as Mayor wasn't there a
huge increase in county hiring? Perhaps he didn't anticipate running for
Mayor again or simply forgot. I -
As a note we cannot guaranty jobs, but we can guaranty good
working condition and fair wages. Fair, not obscene increase as
the Salary Commission recently gave. But we'll save this
discussion'for a later day.
The County budget has grown from $175M in 2000 to what may
be $500M in 2018. We have not had a great increase in
population and inflation has been kept down. Hawaii County
employee growth, however, has been significant over that period
of time, contributing to the budget deficit.
At the Hilo informational meeting on February 13th the common theme
seemed to have been the question of what the administration would do with
the excess funds should Bill 102 pass and the GET revenues applied to
transportation budget. The folks at the meeting wanted to know what
specifically and "to the penny" the excess funds would be used for.
The Real Property and Gasoline taxes were raised soon after Harry Kim -took
office and a year later he's -asking for a tax increase? NO!
I humbly ask that the County Council reject the proposed
increase.