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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-03 Letter to Sylvia Luke re SB 683 SSD2 HD1 re Increase funding for Public Education WilOkabe Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444Fax (808) 323-4440 April 3, 2017 Rep. Sylvia Luke, Chair Committee on Finance Hawai'iState Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Chair Luke and Members RE:SB 683, SD2 HD1 Proposing Amendments to Articles VII and X of the Constitution of the State of Hawai'ito Authorize the Legislature to Establish a Surcharge on Residential Investment Property and Visitor Accommodations to Increase Funding for Public Education As a former teacher myself, I fully appreciate the efforts of this Legislature to properly fund education. However, I cannot support SB 683, SD 2, HD 1, and must speak against it. Effect on Real property tax. The County of Hawaii, as is true of the other counties, has little or no control over its revenue except in one area, real property taxes, and the County relies overwhelmingly on real property taxes to fund its operations. The burden of that tax can be heavy for many residents, but since it is virtually the only tool we have, we use it the best we can. A surcharge on residential investment properties would obviously limit County options and make it even more difficult to balance our budgets. Therefore, we have to jealously guard this taxing authority, and ask that you not breach this line of authority. Effect on TAT. Given our County’s limited resources, we are fortunate that the Legislature has seen fit to allow the counties to share in the TAT. That has been a great help, and we thank you for it. County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. S. Luke April 3, 2017 Page 2 However, this source of revenue is under constant pressure,and even this session the Legislature is being asked to increase the counties’ share of TAT so that we can better serve our constituents and visitors. The TAT pie can only be divided into so many pieces, and a surcharge on visitor accommodations, even forthe most noble of purposes, will obviously limit what can be raised and spent elsewhere. Please do not deprive the counties of this needed source of revenue, by dividing the pie even further. If this bill does pass, we would ask that the wording of the question posed to voters more clearly reflect the impact it would have on counties and real property taxes. Saying "Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on residential investment property and visitor accommodations to fund a public education for all of Hawaii's children?" skews the issue unfairly in favor of a “Yes” vote. Language explaining that counties will probably have to raise property taxes overall, to offset some or all of this earmark, would level the playing field. Respectfully, Harry Kim Mayor County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.