HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0003.01.02 - Testimony - Ad Hoc - PONC fund and Maintenance fundShellie B. Allen Naungayan
1659 Nohoana Place
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
October 8, 2018
The Honorable Douglass Shipman Adams, Chairperson
and Members of the Hawai'i County Charter Commission
County of Hawai'i
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hewer' 96720
Dear Chairperson Adams and Commission Members:
Although I am a member of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation and
Maintenance Funds Commission, I am not writing to you as a member of the commission. I am writing to you
as a concerned citizen and as a resident of District 3.
The purpose of this letter is to express my personal testimony regarding the County of Hawai'i PONC
Preservation Fund, particularly as this applies to a possible amendment to the Hawai'i County Charter
Commission regarding this fund.
First, 1 express my support for the current method of funding for the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural
Resources Preservation Fund.
Currently, Section 10-15 of the Charter states in part:
(a) In adopting each fiscal year's operation budget, the council shall appropriate a minimum
of two percent of the certified real property tax revenues, including penalty and interest,
to a fund known as the public access open space, and natural resources preservation
fund. Deposits to the fund shall occur at a minimum, on a quarterly basis.
(b) Funding shall consist of a minimum of two percent of actual revenue received in the
fiscal year. Additional revenue may consist of grants and private contributions intended
for the purpose of this section, voluntary contributions of any amount as specified on the
real property tax bill, proceeds from the sale of general obligation bonds authorized and
issued for the purpose of this section, council appropriations for the purpose of this
section, and any other source of revenue.
Comm. No. 3.1.2
S. Naungayan
Testimony
Page 2
Reasons for Support of This Method of Funding:
1. The currently mandated two percent of the certified real property tax revenues for the PONC
Preservation Fund allows the PONC Commission to purchase and preserve ancient sites of
significant historical value. In addition to preserving land of historic and cultural value,
PONC is able to purchase and/or acquire lands for public recreation, education, and
conservation. The protection of these natural resources, preservation of forests, animal
habitats, beaches, coastal areas, and watershed lands yields the safeguarding of the land
and its bounty which are invaluable and irreplaceable treasures.
With the recent disasters on Hawai'i Island due to the lava destruction of over 600 homes
and farms as well as the torrential rains and resultant floods, it is inevitable that the actual
real property tax revenues will be much less than had been anticipated. For this reason,
ask that you maintain the current two percent real property tax revenues to fund the PONC
Preservation Fund in order to continue to protect and preserve the historic land and its
natural resources.
2. Since an amendment to the County Charter will last at least ten years on the books, it is
important to consider the exponentially growing value of the lands that must be preserved
and purchased within the next ten years. Many of the lands that PONC purchases are lands
in the Kohala cultural corridor, lands that contain heiau and other important cultural sites that
date back to Kamehameha Nui (Kamehameha the Great). Further, because many of the
lands are also prime beachfront land which requires public access, one must consider the
growing cost of this most valuable real estate. For these reasons, the two percent of the
certified real property tax must remain as the funding source for the Preservation Fund.
While it is true that the PONC budget is currently supported by important grants and
benefactors, these donations are not guaranteed sources of revenue. One cannot rely upon
charity as a means of support, especially in tenuous economic times. For this reason, the
PONC budget must possess sufficient funds to stand alone should the time come when
grants, benefactors, and donations can no longer supplement PONC's purchasing power.
I propose that a cap of thirty million dollars be placed on the amount of money that may be
accumulated by the PONC Preservation fund.
I strongly propose that the Hawai'i County Charter place a cap on the moneys contained in
the PONC fund. Moreover, I staunchly support a cap with a maximum limit of $30 million dollars. I
chose this specific amount after studying the recent purchases made by the PONC Commission as
published in the May 18, 2018, Acquisition Status Report. Please see the attached report. Total
acquisition costs (County) are listed at $31,558,121.32 (page 2 of 3). Further, please note that three
of the costliest and most culturally important parcels are land in the,North Kohala area. After study,
review, and site visits the Commission chose to recommend that Mayor Kim acquire these important
parcels for preservation and protection. By capping the PONC Preservation Fund at $30,000,000.00,
the protection of the land can continue unimpeded and will fulfill the purpose of the Public Access,
Open Space and Natural Preservation Commission (PONC) which is to preserve our 'aim, our land.
M. alo pjha (dexest thanks),
Shellie B. Allen Na yan
Retired Teacher, Vklaiakea High School
County of Hawaii.
Public Access, Open Space and. Natural Preservation Commission (PONC)
ACQUISITION ACREAGE STATUS REPORT
(as of May 18, 2018)
ACQUISITIONS (NO FUNDING)
2% FUND
(actual - incluiliog closing
me,ed�;oW aromas)
TOTAL
Pohoiki Bay, Puna, Hawaii
TMK: (3) 1-3-08:97
$ -
1,606,134.11
$' 1,606,134.11
Waipi`o Valley Lookout Parcel
Hamakua, llawai`i; TMK: (3) 4-8-04:06
$ -
$ 902,120.43
$' 902,120.43
Haws Banyan Trees Property, North Kohala
TMK: (3) 5-5-15:42
$ -
$, 753,612.01
$ 753,612.01
Kaiholena (north), North Kohala, Hawai`i
TMK's: (3) 5-8-01:11, 19, 20, 24
-
$ 6,550,045.82
$ 6,550,045.82
Kipapa Park, North Kona, Hawaii
TMK's: (3) 7-7-08:20, 31
$ -
3,240,026.09
$ 3,240,026.09
White Sands Mauka, North Kona, llawai`i
TMK's: (3) 7-7-08:21, 23
$ -
$ 3,004,150.01
$ 3,004,150.1..
Kahua Olohu, Ka`u, Hawai`i
TMK: (3) 9-5-12:05
$ -
$ 170,879.66
$ 170,879.66
Ilalawa, North Kohala, Hawaii
TMK: (3) 5-3-007:022
$ -
2,504,425.25
2,504,425.25
TOTAL ACQUISITIONS (NO FUNDING) =
SUB -TOTAL =
GRANTS AWARDED =
PRIVATE DONATION =
TOTAL ACQUISITION COSTS (COUNTY) =
$' 1 ,731 393.38
$ 39,156,960.09
$ 5,598,838.77
$ 2,000,000.00
$ 31,558,121.32