Laserfiche WebLink
From: April Nelson <br /> To: WPCtestimonv <br /> Cc: April Nelson <br /> Subject: Testimony-Oppose Bill 121 <br /> Date: Sunday,March 31,2024 4:19:01 PM <br /> Aloha, <br /> I kindly ask you to OPPOSE Bill 121. I wrote a testimony letter for the last council hearing <br /> explaining how renting out a couple rooms in our home as a hosted vacation rental enabled <br /> stable long term housing for myself, my ex-partner, and our son. Our hosted rental helped pay <br /> the bills while I was on maternity leave, helped us pay off debt, and helped us save enough <br /> money so that when my partner and I separated, he could stop living in his car and buy the <br /> cheapest condo in town. <br /> Despite all these benefits, I stopped hosting a year ago because property taxes got so <br /> burdensome that I had to make over $2000 a year just to break even on the difference between <br /> full home exemption and the reduced exemption with a short term rental in our home. When <br /> TAT increased another 3%, I could no longer make it work as a single mom also working a <br /> full time job. Over the years we hosted many locals from other islands and from the Hilo side, <br /> wanting an affordable Kona place to sleep. They elected to rest instead of driving the <br /> dangerous Saddle Road home late at night(which has claimed many lives lately - including <br /> my friend). <br /> Besides my personal experiences, the biggest reasons I Oppose this bill are: <br /> 1. ENFORCEMENT - There is not enough staff to enforce the laws and ordinances we already <br /> have. This is evidenced by many unhosted rentals operating illegally with no action to <br /> remedy, and the thousands of unpermitted homes and additions that continue being built every <br /> day. More laws is not the solution! Enforcement of the laws we currently have, including <br /> noise ordinances and illegal parking, is. <br /> 2. TAKING CURRENT RIGHTS AWAY - We constantly hear Heather saying that everyone <br /> operating today can continue to do so. That is not true. I own a condo that I rent out between <br /> 30 days and 6 months. I pay TAT tax as required, but do not presently need an STVR permit. <br /> My tenants have included traveling nurses and families between rentals needing 2-4 month <br /> stays. There is no path in the bill to get a new unhosted STVR permit for certain property <br /> types/zones. 5 months is not the same as a weekly vacation rental. KEEP THE 30 day <br /> definition as it exists today. <br /> 3. BURDENSOME PROCESS - The new process is so burdensome, how is the county going <br /> to have staff to handle the influx of applications? It is so costly and difficult, many hosted <br /> operators will be unable to continue. Add to that the possibility of the State just taking the <br /> right to rent short term away at any time,people will be hesitant to register if they do at all. I <br /> suspect many people will "find another way" if they need the money to survive. Then the <br /> County and State will not get new revenue they expect, and will miss out on tax revenue they <br /> are currently receiving. <br /> 4. GOOD FOR HOTELS, BAD FOR FAMILIES OF BIG ISLAND - Where are you going to <br /> stay when you want to take your family to Volcano for the weekend? The Volcano House is <br /> expensive, the cabins are booked out for months, and KMC doesn't answer their phones (to the <br />