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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0926.025 2018-2020 a i W _T HAWAII 3 - S IATION OF REALTORS@ COUNTY CLERK May 12, 2020 COUNTY OF HAWAIII � RECEIVED � 2020 Board of Time 2 ?�{, tM gy Directors Hawaii County Council Dat,gPresident 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole '� 2 AndeeBemrose,RB Kailua Kona, Hawaii 90740 President-Elect Aloha Members of the Hawai'i County Council, Lovette Vantas,RD West Hawaii Association of REALTORS@, representing over 800 active real MikeDesparerrt estate licensees and affiliate businesses, is strongly opposed to any increase in Mikebesparcf RB property tax. Wespecifically oppose Sill 109 which proposes a property tax on Secretary properties of 2 million and above. Sara Layne Pedro,RB Treasrrrer• We know these buyers are easy targets and the theory is likely the rich can Ryan Dawson,RB afford it, but we warn of"cooking the golden goose." People have choices and can easily look to other places to buy their second home. Targeting a certain Treasurer-Erect group will drive these people away from the island. Gretchen Howard RS Directors, A strong real estate market is good for Hawai`i's economy. Every home sold in Kristin Moreland,RB Hawaii generates new revenue for many other industries - stimulating business. BlakKristen Hann,RS When taxes go up, consumer confidence--and the willingness to make major ToddnNann,RS purchases goes down.The bill goes about land use planning the completely Todd Barrett,Rs p g g p g p y Laura Men?,RIS wrong way. Resort zoning already pays premium tax unless there is a home Doreen Knox,RB exemption, Executive Officer Karin Show This market segment does not vote here, nor use our facilities (school's etc.). Wherever they are coming from they will have to do their part in assisting with the financial burden from the pandemic back at home. Travel is going to be worrisome and sale prices and rental rates will feel the F74.AlI CY4l`" qGd aNTUNIIk s competitive pinch especially with taxes piling on. These second homeowne'r's pay 100's of thousands of dollars per,home to have a home here on the Sig Island! The average days in residents in those multimillion homes is 28 days a year, and yet they will pay more taxes? Development of these types of properties fl ,� "' ry1 will be non-existent as travel and purchasing real estate under these circumstances will be tough and tougher if we pile on expenses when we know revenue will be down. West Hawaii Association of REAI.TORSO (� 75-5995 Kuakini Hwy-,Ste.2211 Kailua-Kona,HI 96740 1 Phone:18081329-4874( Fax; httn: www,konarealtors.coin I thane knnareartors_qfg — 44. 0to o i r f rF T HAWAII IIATION OF REALTORS@ Bill 1'89 could further expose the County to disparate impact claims under the ` `fereal Fair Housing Act under the protected class of race. Under the Fair 2020 Board of Housing act, it is not necessary to demonstrate an intent to discriminate, it is only Directors necessary to show the discriminatory effect. President Andee Remrose,RD In effect, (Bill 169 creates a new barrier to affordable housing by removing market forces and establishing a "Luxury" class of residential property. President-Elect We have a steep uphill climb with many obstacles to overcome due to the LovetteLrantos,RB pandemic. Not only do we need to manage a virus, we must get people on planes, back in hotels, and then bring STVR's back in the fold. Adding a tax Past Desstdent MiJ{f increase only complicates things and distracts us from focusing on how to get eparcl,RB people to come to the islands, safely, and not feel disincentivized to live here. Secretary Sam Layne Pedro,RB The better question to ask in the short term may be, what can the County do to cut its expenses? The longer-term question is how do we attract people to live Treasurer Ryan Dawson,RB here and do business here? How do we diversify our economy? How can we build affordable housing? Treasurer-Elect Gretchen Howard,RS ThanK...yqu for consr�eration. Kristin Moreianc4 RB r"�/ ^ KrsBloke Ilona,RB Andee Bemrose Kristen Bann,RS Todd Barrett,RS President Laura plem,RS joreen Knox,RB � Executive Officer Karin Siruw rtf,tit it flK I �eaiatuwuHa Qt,CoStpelTY (I � t 770 ji I West Hawaii Association of REALTORSO 75-5995!Ku'akini Hwy„Ste.2211 Kailua-Kona,HI 96740 1 Phone:(808)329-4874 1 Fax:(808)329-5191 i http://`www,konarealtors.com dianeGc�konarealtui° .o rV ,