HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0958.022 2016-2018 P1CoUnUL
ill 101
Executive Officers CDU01. ase
Toby Taniguchi, KTA Superstores, Chair
Joe Carter, Coca-Cola Bottling of Hawaii, Vice Chair
Charlie Gustafson,Tamura Super Market, Secretary/Treas.
I. Lauren Zirbel, HFIA, Executive Director
r•� HAWAII FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION Beau Oshiro, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Past Chair
Stan Brown,Acosta Sales&Marketing,Advisor
1050 Bishop St. FMB 235 I Honolulu, HI 96813 Paul Kosasa,ABC Stores,Advisor
P: 808-533-1292 I e: info@hawaiifood.com Barry Taniguchi, KTA Superstores,Advisor
Derek Kurisu, KTA Superstores,Advisor
TO:
Hawaii County Council
Valerie Poindexter, Chair oc)
Karen Eoff, Vice Chair c c.
FROM: HAWAII FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION -�
co c)-<
Lauren Zirbel, Executive Director -Dc-)
DATE: June 19, 2018 ;
TIME: 9am vi _
PLACE: West Hawaii Civic Center °'
RE: Bill 159 Relating to Transportation Surcharge and Creating the General Excise Tax Fund
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 quarter percent tax may not seem like a lot, but this
extra tax could add hundreds of dollars a year to Hawaii families' cost of living.
Many families in Hawaii County already suffer from food insecurity. This tax will hit lower
income families hardest because they spend a higher percentage of their income on food and
necessities. If the Council is determined to pass some version of this measure it should
be amended to include an exemption for food, medicine, and other essential items.
An added County Surcharge tax is not the right choice for the people of Hawaii, and we urge
you to vote no on this measure. We thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Comm. No. q5% • fl
Ref. To: PlcounclL
Ref. Date JUN 1 8 2 U 18