HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0021.057 - Testimony - CA-7 - PONC fund and Maintenance fundHenricks, Jon
From: Becky Ostertag <ostertag@hawaii.edu>
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2019 6:55 AM
To: Charter Commission
Subject: opposition of CA7, support of CA -9, changes to Maintenance Fund
Dear Charter Commission:
I am writing to express my opposition to CA7--which will gut the 2% land fund. The 2% land fund is one of the best
measures passed that strongly benefits Hawaii Island. I oppose it because it reduces the fund to .75% of property taxes,
removes the Maintenance Fund from the Charter to the County Code where it can be cut in the budget each year by the
Mayor and Council, and removes the clause that protects the land in perpetuity.
I also support CA -9 because it uses 2% LAND FUND MONIES to pay for a full time staff person working for the
Department of Finance who is dedicated to ONLY administering the 2% LAND FUND PROGRAM. Their duties would
include acquiring property, obtaining matching funds, helping the public with suggestion forms and stewardship
applications and the administration of the Maintenance Fund. This saves money for the Department of Finance, with
one less salary to pay.
I also support changes to the Maintenance Fund. These changes will be administered entirely by the Department of
Finance. The benefits are an increase in the scope of activities allowable with Maintenance Fund monies, to include:
constructing toilet facilities, ADA improvements, small buildings, trails paths and roads, a clarification of the stewardship
grant process, and allowability of officers, board members, or employees of a 501(c) 3 nonprofit to be paid.
Rebecca Ostertag
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Comm. No. 21.57