HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-04 HCOM Opposition to HCR 169
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017; 10:35 AM
TO: THE HONORABLE SYLVIA J. LUKE, CHAIR
THE HONORABLE TY J.K. CULLEN, VICE CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
FROM: HAWAII COUNCIL OF MAYORS
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO HCR169
The Hawaii Council of Mayors (HCOM) strongly opposes HCR169, which
requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to convene
an economic development and tax reform working group to study the economic
outcome of transferring the authority to tax real property to the State and allocate a
portion of general excise tax revenues to the counties.
In 1978, public ratified the decision to give the power to impose and collect real
property taxes solely to the counties through a constitutional amendment. Real property
tax revenues make up the most significant portion of all of the counties' general funds.
These funds go toward providing essential services such as road repaving, wastewater
treatment, police, and fire fighters.
We believe that the counties are carrying out their duties responsibly. By
convening a working group to discuss taking away the counties' authority to impose any
taxes, this resolution ignores all the efforts of all the counties. We oppose the intent and
passage of this resolution.
Mayor Harry Kim Mayor Kirk Caldwell Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. Mayor Alan Arakawa
County of Hawaii City and County of Honolulu County of Kauai County of Maui
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25 Aupuni Street 530 South King Street 4444 Rice Street 200 South High Street, 9 Floor
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Lihue, Hawaii 96766 Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
Thank you for your consideration of this testimony in strong opposition to
HCR169.
Sincerely,
Harry Kim, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Mayor
County of Hawai‘i City and County of Honolulu
Bernard Carvalho, Jr., Mayor Alan Arakawa, Mayor
County of Kaua‘i County of Maui