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testimony for Hawaii County Charter Commission, 1:30 PM Friday, November 9, 2018, Kona County Council chambers <br />from Cory Harden, Hilo 333corygmail.com <br />Thank you for your volunteer service. <br />Please keep the land fund strong. We need to beat developers to the draw. They had their way with the other islands, and <br />now they're coming here. <br />1 – Keep the rate at 2%. <br />Almost two-thirds of voters supported the rate of 2% of property taxes—three times. <br />Land is costly, and getting costlier....especially large acreages of beautiful, unique, and significant places. <br />Currently not all of the fund is used. But the problem is not too much money. It's too little staff, to supply the time, energy, <br />and expertise to line up matching funds, do required surveys and studies, and negotiate with sellers. See #4. <br />2 – Consider a cap of $20 million, but only if staff support is increased. Or have no cap. <br />There are still numerous places in need of protection, <br />3 – Keep the covenant that requires 2% lands to be kept in perpetuity. <br />Permanent protection was the intent of the many voters who supported the land fund. <br />If lands can change hands, few entities will offer matching funds, and fewer community people will work to save and <br />maintain land, for fear it will end up in the wrong hands, <br />Problems with managing and maintaining lands can be handled by hiring staff. See #4. <br />Problems such as doing flood control and improving access can be handled by memorandums of understanding (MOUs). <br />4 – Hire staff under the Finance Department and paid with Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources (PONC) <br />funds. Their duties should involve only existing and future PONC lands: acquiring land, finding matching funds, <br />maintaining lands with Maintenance Fund money, obtaining and supervising maintenance contracts, and supporting the <br />PONC Commission. <br />5 – Expand uses of the Maintenance Fund to toilet facilties; small buildings for education and storage of equipment; <br />roads, trails, and paths; waterlines; drinking fountains; Americans with Disabilities Act compliance; and maintenance <br />contracts with grantees. <br />Please ensure we can save our land before it's too late. <br />lid 6— ON slil <br />r) <br />=•C <br />r– <br />> rri <br />••••= <br />- <br />3= <br />Comm. No. 3.1.20 <br />