HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-03 PL-CCI-2024-000004 Bill 122 Kristina Anderson Testimony From: Kristina Anderson
To: WPCtestimonv
Subject: Opposed to Bill 121 and 122
Date: Wednesday,April 3,2024 5:55:44 PM
Honorable Planning Commissioners:
Please accept my testimony in strong opposition to the above bills. I have hosted a room in my
home as a short term rental for years and this income has helped offset the extremely high
costs of living in Hawaii, especially a single mother of twins whose dad abandoned them as
young teens. Both my kids finished college at UH and have three degrees among them. This
would not have been possible without the short term rental income I receive from renting to
mostly quiet visitors. However, Over the years, I have housed more than tourists coming to snorkel in
South Kona.These include:
-visiting professors attending conferences at UH
-an entomologist who was treating all of Milolii with dengue-reducing mosquito traps during the dengue crisis,and
giving presentations to county officials
-a group of archeologists who were doing surveys along the lava flows
-Hilo realtors doing open houses on this side
-Flight attendants who were grounded when the Kona runway closed
-A fish biologist who booked my place specifically to snorkel at our subdivision's beach. He's studying the health of
the fish on all the local reefs.
--New residents of our subdivision who are building and needed temporary quarters nearby
--Teachers who have just arrived from the mainland and need to get settled
--A construction crew hired to make repairs to some county facilities right after the pandemic
I pay all my taxes--GE, TAT, HCTAT, federal and state income and property. Even though I
live in my primary residence, I lost my homeowner exemption rate and the cap because I rent
short term.
Over the years, my small, humble place has paid out tens of thousands in taxes!
The proposed features of 121 will render me completely unable to compete in this market. It's
not like a make a fortune doing this. It's a lot of hard work and sometimes guests can be
difficult. But I have not wanted to quit until now. Between the hassles and expenses of
registering for something I've been doing for years LEGALLY and the loss of my homeowner
exemption rate, it's just no longer tenable. I have had to take early retirement because my pay
as a substitute teacher will not cover my constantly rising expenses.
And no, I will NEVER rent my place long term. In addition to it being set up as a furnished,
temporary rental, it's just too small and inappropriate for long term renters. I also want to
reserve my studio for my kids when they visit from the mainland. And in addition, I am scared
to death of getting squatters who would be difficult and expensive to evict. I have three or four
friends who had to spend thousands to get bad tenants out. I'd rather let it sit empty than take
those chances.
Passing this bill directly hurts local people. I am one.
Please vote NO!