HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-02 Letter to Patrick Hurney re Tipping Fees and Property Taxes - Habitat for Humanity ,•. Wil Okabe
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25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553
KONA 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740
(808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440
May 2, 2018
Patrick F. Hurney
Habitat for Humanity
West Hawaii, Inc.
P.O. Box 4619
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
Dear Mr. Hurney,
SUBJECT: Letters Dated April 24, 2018 re: Tipping Fees and Property Taxes
The County of Hawai'i does support Habitat for Humanity's mission to bring people
together to build homes, communities, and hope. We have received your letters dated
April 24, 2018 requesting waivers from tipping fees at County solid waste facilities and
exemptions from paying real property taxes on twenty-two (22) properties owned by
Habitat for Humanity.
Tipping Fees
Your organization is requesting an annual exemption for the Restores, and individual
exemption by site for new construction and critical home repairs. The Department of
Environmental Management (DEM) only has a process to provide a waiver for "one-
time" tipping fees to nonprofit organizations. Hawai'i County Code section 20-46 (e)
allows for fees to be waived "...for one-time events for community organizations,
nonprofit organizations..." This would allow Habitat for Humanity to apply for a waiver
during new construction or critical home repairs. Please work with DEM to apply for
these waivers during these "one-time" events. Unfortunately, there is no basis for
allowing an annual exemption or waiver for the Restores.
Property Taxes
Your organization is requesting exemption from paying property taxes on twenty-two
(22) properties owned by Habitat for Humanity. The Real Property Tax Office (RPT)
County of Iiawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Patrick F. Hurney
Habitat for Humanity
May 2, 2018
Page 2
offers nonprofit organizations a "nonprofit exemption" (Hawai'i County Code section 19-
77) that would qualify nonprofits to pay a minimum tax on a particular property. One of
the stipulations to qualify is that the property applying for the exemption be in "active
use." This would not work for land that Habitat for Humanity may be "banking" for later
use or sale. A search of tax office records shows that Habitat for Humanity already has
nonprofit exemptions on several properties. If you have other properties that are in
"active use", including your Restores, please work with RPT to apply for the nonprofit
exemption. Please note that in order to get an exemption applied to 2019 tax
assessments on property that is in active use, the deadline to apply for the exemption is
December 31, 2018.
We thank you and your organization for the wonderful work that you are doing in our
community. We are pleased to assist you by providing waivers from tipping fees for
"one-time" events and tax exemptions for properties in "active use."
If you require further assistance, please feel free to contact Hans Santiago of this office
at (808) 961-8507.
Sincerely,
Harry Ki
Mayor
c: William Kucharski, DEM, Director
Keita Jo, RPT, Acting Assistant Administrator
County of Hawar i is an Equal Opportunity Pro%'der and Employer