HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0021.059 - Testimony - CA-7 - PONC fund and Maintenance fundFrom: Marie Morin <mariemorin24@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2019 11:26 AM
To: Charter Commission
Subject: Opposition to CA -7 -Weakening the Land Fund
I oppose CA -7 , as it is currently written. Any attempt to reduce the percent from 2% of the property taxes down to
0.75% of the property taxes is short-sighted, especially considering what a small percent of the property tax revenue 2%
represents. Now is the time to work hard to preserve public access and open green spaces for Hawai'i Island citizens,
and NOT the time to cut back on those spaces desperately needed for quality -of -life, recreation, and conservation. I
support the addition of one (or more) staff funded by the Fund and solely dedicated to working with public and non-
profit groups seeking to utiilze the Fund. I oppose removing the clause that protects these acquired land in
perpetuity. Our Friends of Amy Greenwell Garden non-profit has obtained a federal grant to match our other funds
(hopefully incuding PONC monies for an easement or partial purchase) in order to acquire the Garden from Bishop
Museum, but we will not be able to use PONC or Maintenance Fund monies if the purchase does not require
perpetual protection, because that is a requirement of our federal grant.
Marie Morin Ph.D.
Secretary
Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
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Comm. No. 21.59