HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0926.044 2018-2020 May 26 20 06:32p p.1 Pi SCPEML
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Dear Council Members,
I am writing this letter to you as a non-primary resident home owner. Because 1 am not
a citizen of Hawaii, I do not have the right to vote in any of the state or local elections; I
must depend upon my neighbors who are residents to vote for policies and politicians
that hopefully are fair and equal for everyone.
I have become very upset to hear about the proposed 33%property tax increase that
you are talking about levying on homeowners like myself.This proposal unfairly singles
out about 930 of us on the island. While we all realize times are extremely tough, now
is not the time to drastically increase taxes on any of your constituents. I have a feeling
that increasing our property taxes so swiftly and substantially will have many unintended
consequences for the island. The people that you plan on taxing even more already do
so much for the island. We support and give selflessly to many causes across the
island like the North Hawaii Community Hospital, Hawaii Island Humane Society and
countless others.
I personally have the privilege to serve on the Hualalai Ohana f=oundation and I see
firsthand how hundreds of non-resident homeowners just like myself make a difference
in the lives of many on this island. Just since this pandemic has started,we have raised
almost$500,000 to help those who work in our Hualalai Resort community. This
amount is in addition to the substantial endowment we have already raised over the
years for medical care and educational causes for those who work at Hualalai Resort
and their families. I am incredibly proud of the work we do and the lives we touch but
this large tax increase will absolutely have an impact on the amount that those in my
community will be able to donate. We all have to budget our finances and if our tax
burden increases yet again,then we must cut back other areas where we spend our
money. The first thing to be affected when people must cut their spending is most
always charitable giving.The ripple effects of this proposed property tax increase would
be felt across the island for many years.
1 have learned over my time on this island how tax dollars collected from the resort
homes in my district are allocated all around the island but never in our own backyard
so to speak.These 930 homes account for roughly 20%of the taxes collected on this
island yet these 930 homes are less than 1%of the total number of homes. You raise
our taxes but hardly ever spend any of that money in our district. Queen K Highway is a
dangerous stretch of road that should have been addressed years ago. This is an
extremely treacherous highway and it has claimed the lives of countless people on the
island (including some of my friends). It would not take much to add more street lights
and more dividers down the roadway to prevent the many deadly head-on collisions that
happen on the highway. However,it will be business as usual and I am sure the
increased tax revenue you collect from the resort homeowners will be sent to other
areas of the island.
This pandemic has hit everyone hard and now is not the time to raise tars on anyone;
especially in such a fast and secretive manner. The Hawaii I have witnessed during
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May 26 20 06:33p p.2
these last 2 months is not the Hawaii I know and love. This pandemic has destroyed
the aloha spirit and pitted neighbor against neighbor and government against its people.
Instead of coming together many are throwing blame at others and drifting farther apart.
Tourism, whether thru hotels, home rentals or second hometcondo owners, is such an
important and integral part of the Hawaiian economy and the way it has been villainized
by many in positions of power has been heartbreaking. Substantially raising taxes on
vacation homes is one more attack against tourism and we will not forget it. I currently
don't feel welcome at my own home on the island and I have countless other neighbors
who feel the same way. The Hawaiian state and local government is basically saying it
doesn't want us to visit our own homes unless we shutter ourselves away for 2 weeks.
This same government is now wanting to tax us even more for these very same homes
that we are being discouraged from using. The Great Recession of 2008/2009 did a
number on home prices all across the island and that will happen again here very soon.
Increasing taxes on vacation homes is only going to discourage potential buyers even
more and it will help everyone's home prices plummet which will then lead to even less
income for the county.
Even those who have been economically blessed in life must tighten their baits and
curtail their spending during this pandemic/recession/depression. I ask that the city
council do the same or they will risk harsh unintended consequences that will hurt our
island community and economy even more than it has already been hurt. When you
bite the hand that feeds you too many times there will be no hand left to feed you.
Sincerely,
Susan Johns
sjohnsl234(LDaol.com
Non-voting but Taxpaying Homeowner at Hualalai Resort