HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0722.086 2016-2018 Pi COMICil
COMM.122
' . Executive Officers
Toby Taniguchi, KTA Superstores, Chair
z� Joe Carter,Coca-Cola Bottling of Hawaii, Vice Chair
� ,. Charlie Gustafson,Tamura Super Market, Sec,efary/Treas.
iti ' °®.ga � " Lauren Zirbel, HFIA, Executive Director
"► HAWAII FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION Beau Oshiro, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Past Chair
Stan Brown,Acosta Sales&Marketing,Advisor
1050 Bishop St. PMB 2351 Honolulu, HI 96813 Paul Kosasa,ABC Stores,Advisor
P: 808-533-1292 1 e: info@hawaiifood.com Barry Taniguchi, KTA Superstores,Advisor
Derek'Kurisu, KTA Superstores,Advisor
TO: =
Hawaii County Council
Aaron S. Y. Chung, Chair
Karen Eoff, Vice Chair --_
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FROM: HAWAII FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION =I--
Lauren Zirbel, Executive Director — m
DATE: January 23, 2019 • o .
TIME: 9am
PLACE: West Hawaii Civic Center
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. Hawaii County residents also already pay an added .25% County
Surcharge. 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' 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. We believe we should all be working to find ways to make Hawaii more affordable for
residents, not increasing the cost of living.
An increase in the County Surcharge tax is not the right choice for the people of Hawaii, and
we strongly urge you to vote no on this measure and to instead take steps to create an
exemption for food, medicine, and other essential items to the existing County Surcharge.
We thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Comm. No. 121.'60
Ref. To: P(c rnal
Ref. Date J N 2 2 19