HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-31 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 April Nelson Testimony From: April Nelson
To: WPCtestimonv
Cc: April Nelson
Subject: Testimony-Oppose Bill 121
Date: Sunday,March 31,2024 4:19:01 PM
Aloha,
I kindly ask you to OPPOSE Bill 121. I wrote a testimony letter for the last council hearing
explaining how renting out a couple rooms in our home as a hosted vacation rental enabled
stable long term housing for myself, my ex-partner, and our son. Our hosted rental helped pay
the bills while I was on maternity leave, helped us pay off debt, and helped us save enough
money so that when my partner and I separated, he could stop living in his car and buy the
cheapest condo in town.
Despite all these benefits, I stopped hosting a year ago because property taxes got so
burdensome that I had to make over $2000 a year just to break even on the difference between
full home exemption and the reduced exemption with a short term rental in our home. When
TAT increased another 3%, I could no longer make it work as a single mom also working a
full time job. Over the years we hosted many locals from other islands and from the Hilo side,
wanting an affordable Kona place to sleep. They elected to rest instead of driving the
dangerous Saddle Road home late at night(which has claimed many lives lately - including
my friend).
Besides my personal experiences, the biggest reasons I Oppose this bill are:
1. ENFORCEMENT - There is not enough staff to enforce the laws and ordinances we already
have. This is evidenced by many unhosted rentals operating illegally with no action to
remedy, and the thousands of unpermitted homes and additions that continue being built every
day. More laws is not the solution! Enforcement of the laws we currently have, including
noise ordinances and illegal parking, is.
2. TAKING CURRENT RIGHTS AWAY - We constantly hear Heather saying that everyone
operating today can continue to do so. That is not true. I own a condo that I rent out between
30 days and 6 months. I pay TAT tax as required, but do not presently need an STVR permit.
My tenants have included traveling nurses and families between rentals needing 2-4 month
stays. There is no path in the bill to get a new unhosted STVR permit for certain property
types/zones. 5 months is not the same as a weekly vacation rental. KEEP THE 30 day
definition as it exists today.
3. BURDENSOME PROCESS - The new process is so burdensome, how is the county going
to have staff to handle the influx of applications? It is so costly and difficult, many hosted
operators will be unable to continue. Add to that the possibility of the State just taking the
right to rent short term away at any time,people will be hesitant to register if they do at all. I
suspect many people will "find another way" if they need the money to survive. Then the
County and State will not get new revenue they expect, and will miss out on tax revenue they
are currently receiving.
4. GOOD FOR HOTELS, BAD FOR FAMILIES OF BIG ISLAND - Where are you going to
stay when you want to take your family to Volcano for the weekend? The Volcano House is
expensive, the cabins are booked out for months, and KMC doesn't answer their phones (to the
point that my neighbors had to drive out there to talk to them in person in order to make a
future reservation!). I recently took my son for a weekend in Volcano and we stayed at
an affordable, hosted Airbnb. My son and I got to explore Volcano for two whole days rather
than driving the dangerous roads at night two hours home. Many hosted rentals will shut their
doors if this bill passes. It will hurt ALL OF US except the mainland corporate hotels. Big
Island families will lose income they need to survive, all the support staff including cleaners,
maintenance folks, and property managers will lose income or their jobs, and we all will lose
affordable places to stay in Volcano, Puna, Hilo, Hamakua, Kohala, and even Kona. We are
going to push people into driving tired after a long day, and more of these fatal accidents will
result.
5. IT WILL NOT CREATE MORE LONG TERM HOUSING- These hosted rentals are spare
rooms that residents need for their own family to visit part of the year. They are hosted by
residents fearful of renting long term until Landlord-Tenant code issues are addressed.
6. IT WILL INCITE LITIGATION -I do not want MORE of my tax dollars going toward
defending bills with known legal holes in them.
Please listen to the residents of Big Island about this bill. The corporate people supporting this
legislation are supporting it for financial reasons only. We, Big Island families, are trying to
survive, keep money local, and make this a better place for all of us to live.
Mahalo for your support,
April Nelson