HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0790.002 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF 8ANAI"z
RECEIVED
Wed]/2S/ZO2O1Z:14Am ----=----
Res.S21—ZO Date MAR 2 5 2020
To: Council Testimony
Aloha Honorable Council Members,
I was interested in tomorrow's Council meeting primarily regarding the County's Covid-19 response. |
happen to see an item entitled Res 521-20 that authorizes the mayor to enter into an agreement with
the State DLNR for financial assistance to acquire parcels 52007004 and 027 in North Kohala for$1.452
million. I assume this is a PONC purchase where DLNR provides half of the funding, making the purchase
price about$2.9 million. |f| am mistaken, please let me know. -
K4yconcern isn't about whether the purchase meets the PONCqualifications, but isabout the assessed
value and exemption the property has had for a number of years before this purchase. Au | had written
to you in an earlier email, I believe there are numerous properties on the Big Island that are improperly
assessed both from a market value standpoint and in regards to exemptions, particularly the agricultural
one. I gave an example of the lower Puna property that was inundated by lava in 2018 that eventually
negated the P0NCsale. Hopefully,the County never went through with that purchase.
These two parcels appear tobeanother example. | have attached the tax records ofthese parcels for
your review. The total assessed market value for the two isabout$l.477million. The larger parcel
shows no exemption for 2020, but has the agricultural exemption since at least 2008, reducing the
taxable value to$900Osince 2UIS. Ufinterest|sthat the property value appears tohave nore-
assessment from201Sto2U19. | know myland,axwell asmynei8hbors', have been re-assessed each
year during that period with asteady increase invalue. The smaller parcel still has the agexemption ax
ithad since utleast 2U14.
So, | have the following questions:
1. If the properties are being purchased by the County for a price of$2.9 million,were the properties
under-assessed oristhe County over paying?
2. Is there an agricultural operation on these properties that generate at least$2000 per year as
required byCounty code? You can see from the Google Earth map shown inthe County tax records that
itisunlikely that both properties have any agricultural use onthem. |fthere was alegitimate aQuse that
generated income,that should be easily verifiable by checking GET records.
3. Why was the larger parcel never re-assessed from 2015 to 2019,a total of five years. And,why was it
re-assessed this year atasignificantly higher value? Why was the agexemption removed?
4. Was there an appraisal done on these parcels by an independent appraiser hired by the County as `
required byCounty code?
|suAgeot that considering the severe economic crisis facing us that this resolution be put on hold until
these questions are answered.
Mahu|ofor your time and consideration.
Don Rudny
Comm. No. 0 I
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