HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0958.024 2016-2018 PI CoWWrcrL
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Murashige, Laura
From: Sally Ancheta <sally@hiphi.org>
Sent: Thursday,June 28, 2018 9:01 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Support for Hawaii County Bill 159 draft 2
Attachments: Bill 159 Comments HI HEAL-HIPHI Testimony 6 28 2018.docx
Aloha Honorable Chair and Hawai'i County Council members,
Please accept our written testimony in support of Bill No 159, Draft 2.
With aloha,
Sally Ancheta
Sally Ancheta
Hawai'i Island Community Coordinator =
Hawai'i Public Health Institute
sallyre4hiphi.org or(808)936-2686
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Date: June 28, 2018
To: The Honorable Valerie Poindexter, Chair
The Honorable Karen Eoff, Vice Chair
Members of the Hawai'i County Council Committee on Finance
From: Sally Ancheta, Hawai'i Island Community Coordinator
Re: Comments on Bill 159, Draft 2, Relating to the Transportation Surcharge and GET Fund
Hrg: June 29, 2018 at 10:00am
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on Bill 159, Draft 2, establishing the
Transportation Surcharge which would establish a one-quarter percent (0.25%) general excise
and use tax surcharge to be used for purposes of funding the operating and capital costs of
public transportation within the County of Hawai'i to be levied beginning January 1, 2019, with
a repeal date of December 31, 2020.
The Hawai'i Island Healthy Eating Active Living (HI HEAL) coalition is home to the Hawai'i Public
Health Institute. HI HEAL's mission is to improve the quality of life of the residents and visitors
of Hawaii County by working to promote opportunities for physical activity and access to
healthy foods.
HIPHI appreciates the intent of County Council to revisit Bill 159. As passed into state law
during Special Session 2017, SB 4 (Act 001) authorizes Hawaii County to adopt an ordinance to
raise the GET. During the 2018 Legislative Session, HB 2587 extends this adoption deadline to
March 2019. Bill 159 would provide a new funding source for the improvement of roadways
and access to public transportation for Hawai'i Island residents and visitors. HI HEAL
appreciates the intent to use the GET surcharge to assist with the costs associated with the
volcanic emergency. However, as passed into law, HI HEAL recommends that a portion of the
GET surcharge be allocated toward public transportation projects:
• Projects such as Complete Streets, Safe Routes to School, and capital improvements to
support non-motorized forms of transportation such as walking and biking.
• The implementation of Hawai'i County's new Mass Transit Plan to improve access to
reliable, safe, and affordable transportation for communities and to improve
infrastructure condition to address public health and safety.
According to the County Health Rankings 2017 report, Hawaii County ranks last when it comes
to providing access to physical activity. Hawai'i County is at 64%, compared to Honolulu County
at 95%, Kaua'i County at 91% and Maui County at 94%.
In addition, studies show that 80%of what affects a person's health lies outside of clinical care.
The conditions in which people live, learn, work, and play affect their health far more than
genes or clinical care do. Hawai'i County has the opportunity to generate much needed funds to
improve in mass transit infrastructure and our roadways and paths systems. Investments in our
transit and alternative transportation options will provide our residents and future generation
with the opportunity to live in a healthy and active community.
The County of Hawai'i has always led the way in creating healthy communities in the state of
Hawaii. If more residents are able to walk, bike, or take the bus,then less cars will be on the
road, ultimately reducing traffic, road congestion, carbon emissions, and improving air quality
around schools and our neighborhoods. Bill 159 will help to raise the much-needed investments
and improvements for public transportation and the future of our health in Hawai'i County.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on Bill 159, Draft 2.
Sincerely,
Sally Ancheta
Sally Ancheta
East Hawai'i Community Coordinator