HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-31 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 F. Finn Testimony From: Kelly Finn
To: WPCtestimony
Subject: Bill 121 Testimony
Date: Sunday,March 31,2024 5:07:53 PM
Attachments: Comments on STVR Bill.docx
VACATION RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES.docx
I comment letter w/ 1 attachment
Mahalo,
F.Finn
Pahoa, HI
Comments on Bill 122
Literally reading this bill made me ill, sick to my stomach and my heart pounding;
that is how upsetting it is. It is another sucker punch to the working people who do
the right thing, pay their taxes, hire people and pay them,take care of their
properties and try to work to ensure their future and future retirement. You just
keep adding more and more taxes with NO justification.
First off-this bill was touted as only impacting those not regulated under Bill 108
(hosted), therefore, it is very confusing as to why it calls for"registering". Permitted
STVRs have registered with the County to get the NCU permit; and are registered
with the GET and TAT and County tax collection system. There is no valid reason to
further invade our privacy rights by requiring yet another registration.
Once Bill 108 went into effect, new unhosted permits were prohibited. I don't think
this is right but it is in effect. So who exactly is supposed to paying the County$1000
for some "initial registration" and $500 for "initial NUC"?All legal NUC unhosted
STVRs already did that and paid $500 and we currently pay another $250 every
year. This is incidentally one of the most expensive STVR registration fees in the
entire U.S. (see attachment). I do not understand who this is referring to but if it is
intended to make current legal registered STVRs register again and pay as
additional $1500 then this is patently wrong and cannot be implemented. We are
supposed to pay another$500/year for the NCU permit?Absolutely no. Most other
vacation places in the U.S. which require permits do not require annual renewals
with fees. We are not rich people. We should not have to pay annual renewal fees of
$500—we should not even be paying the current$250.
The TAT + GET + County 3% already makes us the MOST expensive "hotel tax" in the
United States. Yet every problem that arises in Hawaii the first thing legislators'
propose is "increase the TAT". It is outrageous and egregious.
You cannot keep applying this one size fits all method of regulating things. In Puna
our STVRs charge around $120/night while those in Kohala charge $1700/night-
we should be treated the same?We already have the highest"hotel' taxes in the
United States at this time.
Why are legislators continuing to blame the small business owners (STVRs) on the
big island for all the ills on the island? STVRs provide a service to the visitors and to
those they employ especially in areas like Puna where there are no hotels.
Our home insurance rates on the big island have doubled for some, like myself, and
others are unable to get insurance at all. Our property taxes increase every year. The
cost to fly to Hilo gets more expensive and much less convenient with United
Airlines no longer serving Hilo. The costs ("commissions") VRBO and AirBnB take
from us increases every year. And now you want to put more of us out of business
by taking more and more money from us every year. Please vote NO and stop taxing
us to death.
This bill, as written, is damaging, egregiously unfair, and will cause many small
business owners to be out of business. Most of use, myself included,will not rent our
properties out to full time renters. Landlords have very little protection and
evictions are virtually impossible. It is a risk many are not willing to take, especially
in Puna.
VACATION RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES ACROSS THE U.S.
Islamorada, FL $1,000
Palm Springs, CA $923
Maui County, HI $650
Hawaii County $500+ $250 renewal
Hollywood, FL $500
Indian Harbor Beach, FL $500
Austin, TX $500
Cathedral City, CA $415
Fort Lauderdale, FL Ranges from $160 (non-owner occupied) to
$350 (up to 4 units under same roof)
Bend OR $280+ $205 renewal
Salem OR $275 + $161 renewal
Orlando FL $250
Tillamook County, OR $250+ $100 (inspection) _ $350
San Francisco, CA $250+ $90 = $340
S. Lake Tahoe, CA $250 (up to 4 occupants) $500 (up to 8)
Bradenton, FL $250+ $150 renewal
Sunny Isles Beach, FL $110+ $100 = $210
Seattle, WA $70 + $55 +$75 = $200
Estes Park, CA $200
Portland, OR $178
Atlanta GA $150/annually
New York City $145
Prescott, AZ $140
Lake Havasu City, AZ $110
Miami FL $100
Tampa FL $93
San Luis Obispo, CA $36 (annual license) + $54 (land use authorization)
_ $90
Grand County, CO $25/person based on max occupancy
College Station, TX $15
Truckee, CA no fee to register
Kissimmee FL no fee to register
Eugene OR free registration