HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 207 Pritikin, H - Land FundLAND FUND
I voted for the 2% land fund and I don't see how the council can override the votes of
the people.
Mahalo, Harry
Harry M. Pritikin R(S) Big Island Specialist
Big Island Real Estate UPdates
Agent at Koa Realty, 75-5689 Alii Drive
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740
Website: www.konarealestateagent.com
FAX: 808-334-1567
24 HOUR CELL: 808-989-3491
EMAIL: trustharry@aloha.net
Reinstate the 2% amount. 63% of voters approved this in 2006. The
commissioners do NOT think we will vote for this again.PLEASE reassure them.
Ask them to PUT THE 2% LAND FUND ON THE BALLOT and let the VOTERS
DECIDE!
We need the 2% amount or $4 million per year not the ½% or $1 million that is
currently being proposed. The $11 million in the fund is depleted with the
exciting purchase of 151 acres at Kaiholena in North Kohala for $6.7 million and
the soon to be purchased 2nd portion of Kawa Bay for $3.9 million. To see the
Open Space commission's recommended purchases for 2009 go to
http://www.hawaii-county.com/finance/ponc.htm
It needs to be stated that the highest and best use of the Land Fund is to seek
dollar-for -dollar matching funds to double the money in the fund to maximize
land conservation.
It needs to be stated that the land fund should be an interest bearing account.
AND that deposits should be made after property taxes are collected twice per
year so more funds are available and interest can accrue. So far we have added
$403,551.00 in interest since late 2006 to January 2010.
It needs to be stated that the Land fund be used for acquisition and NOT for
maintenance OR development of parks. IN the 2007-08 Hawaii county report it
states that $7.1 million in the budget is to be used for park maintenance.
It needs to be clarified that IF the 2% tax set aside is used to pay the debt on an
Open Space Bond, that the bond should not be part of an aggregate bond issue,
so that citizens can watchdog how the fund is used to pay fees, commissions and
other bond expenses.