HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-04 BOR Meeting MinutesCOUNTY OF HAWAII
TAX BOARD OF REVIEW
MEETING MINUTES — Organizational Meeting
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Real Property Tax Conference Room
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 4, Hilo, Hawaii
CALL TO ORDER:
Vice -Chairman Donald David called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
Present were: Board Members Donald David, Richard Dinges and Melvin
Ventura; Craig Masuda, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Stanley Sitko, Real
Property Tax Administrator, Jaime Ortiz Nava, Real Property Tax Appraisal
Supervisor, and Lisa Miura, Deputy Director.
Absent was: Board Member Reiko Ford.
There was one member from the public in attendance.
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: No statements were made.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes from the appeals and complaint hearings held on November 12, 2014,
were distributed to the Board Members prior to the meeting for their review.
No corrections were noted.
Mr. David moved to accept the minutes of the November 12th meeting.
Seconded by Mr. Dinges. A call for discussion was made. Motion passed
by a vote of 3:0.
OLD BUSINESS: No old business discussed.
NEW BUSINESS:
• Welcome Any New Board Members.
Introductions were made welcoming new member Melvin Ventura. Mr.
Ventura resides in Kealakekua. Mr. Masuda announced that former Board
Member, Wesley Takai, was up for confirmation by the County Council to
serve a second term.
• Election of Officers.
Mr. Dinges nominated Mrs. Ford as Chairman and Mr. David as Vice -
Chairman.
No other nominations were received.
Mr. Dinges moved to elect Mrs. Ford as Chairman and Mr. David as
Vice -Chairman. Seconded by Mr. David. A call for discussion was
made. Motion passed by a vote of 3:0.
• Establishing Dates for 2015 Tax Appeal Case Hearings.
A list of the tentative appeal hearing dates was distributed to the
Members. The dates are as follows:
Hilo: August 18, 19; September 22, 23; October 6, 7;
December 15, 16
Kona: August 11, 12; August 25, 26; September 15, 16; September 29, 30
October 13, 14; October 27, 28; November 17, 18; December 8, 9
Hilo hearings will be held at the Aupuni Center Conference Room in the
Aupuni Center. Kona hearings will be held at the Department of Liquor
Control Conference Room in the West Hawaii Civic Center.
• Establishing Workshop Date, Place and Agenda.
A discussion was held amongst the Members as to the date and place of
the Annual Board of Review Workshop. The Members were informed that
this year's workshop will cover more material and training by the Real
Property Tax Administration and Staff and will again be held over a two-
day period. After discussion, the Members selected July 28 and 29, 2015
for the workshop. The workshop will be held in Hilo at the Aupuni Center
Conference Room. A discussion was also held as to the State Board of
Review Conference which will be held on Friday, May 29th, at Nico's Pier
38 on Oahu. More information will be forthcoming. Mr. David stated that
he will not be able to the conference due to other obligations.
• Discussion of Bills Relating to Assessments.
Mr. Sitko stated that there are two bills pending legislation. One of the
bills has the State wanting to regulate how the Counties assess certain
classes of property. The State gave up that right to the Counties back in
1978 and had assessments fall under the jurisdiction of the Counties.
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• General Legal Discussion and Training.
Mr. Masuda stated that legal discussion and training will take place
throughout the year, as time permits between hearings, and at the
workshop planned for July. If members would want to receive training on
specific topics, they were instructed to contact Mr. Masuda or Mr. Pike
with their suggestions. The members were also provided with information
on executive session and parliamentary procedures.
• Swearing in of New Member
Mr. Ventura was sworn in as a member of the Board by Lisa Miura,
Deputy Finance Director.
• Comments from Real Property Tax Administrator
Mr. Sitko thanked the Members for their service and requested that they
inform the division if there was any topics, items or programs that they
would like to receive more information on and that they could include it in
the July workshop.
• Other Miscellaneous Reports and Comments
Mr. Masuda provide a brief explanation as to the role of the participants
attending appeal hearings. He stated that the Board Members should not
be looking to the Administrators for information at the appeal hearings.
The Administrators are present at the hearings to assess the performance
of the Appraisers and Supervisors, and to assist with the computer system
should additional information be requested.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Dinges moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mr. David. A call for
discussion was made. Motion to adjourn passed by a vote of 3:0.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:08 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
E. N bnal Swa i w
Elizabeth (Nina) Swain
Real Property Appeals Board Clerk
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