HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0081.010 2018-2020 P/CounOl
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COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
Testimony against GET increase RECEIVED
Time q:00r By '
February 19, 2019 Date 02/1'0111
Good Evening Chair and Council Members:
The recent eruption activity has put a serious load on the big island's economic
engine:
• Tourism rates are down and that impacts an already frustrated employee
labor market;
• Many former,residents in the eruption impacted area are still looking for
housing solutions;
• Having to double up with friends and family, or accept substandard
accommodations and need to relocate cause additional hardships and
expenses;
• and the unhappy list goes on and on...
This is not the time to put an additional "SURCHARGE" GET tax on the backs of
your constituents in Hawaii County. Increasing the Cost of Living, no matter how
small, is still INCREASING the cost of living for voters and families on the big Island
of Hawaii. Making ends meet is already hard and this just adds insult to injury.
This County has increased its budget substantially over the past years, it is time
you perform your managerial oversight and look at where these vast sums of
money are going. Every dollar of spending needs to be accounted for BEFORE you
decide to take the easy way out.
Your responsibility to the public ,as a Council, is to review the other side of the
budget. An accurate understanding of where the money is going and if it is being
spent according to the County's Charter guidelines. ALL funds, from the General
Fund to Special Purpose Funds, each should be reviewed, and a determination
made as to the continuance of special purpose funding and if no longer applicable
or within the governance of the County's Charter, close the fund and redirect the
monies to the General Fund.
Now is the time for consider ALL things related to your responsibility of the
County's economic needs,just slapping another tax on the backs of the people is
unacceptable.
Consideration Appreciated...Thank you.
Comm. No.
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Ref.To: council
Ref. Date FEB 1 9 2019