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+--- Thread: HPP Road fees (/showthread.php?tid=7933)
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RE: HPP Road fees - mikewj - 02-15-2011
In my opinion one of the main reasons for our fiscal distress and current debt in HPP is an unfathomable urge for 'gentrification'. When I bought in HPP, I was fully aware that my lots were on dirt roads and were zoned Ag1. I was quite happy with the idea of buying a 4WD vehicle to access my property, and pleased to think that I would have minimal overhead other than utilities and property tax once my house was completed. Five years on, and against my wishes, I am locked in to paying for this unwanted and unnecessary expense.
I, like many others in the area, live on a fixed income. I had hoped that my working days were over, but now through factors over which I have no control, it appears that it might be necessary for me to create some kind of an income stream to pay for something that I did not and do not want.
There are some disadvantages, of course, to gravel roads. There are also problems with paved roads, not the least of which is increased fast traffic by vehicles traversing the development at high speed. I had and have no desire to live in town, and resent being compelled to pay for services I do not want, while at the same time paying for things like access to mains water, street cleaning, mains sewer services and the like which I do not have. End of rant.
RE: HPP Road fees - Bob Orts - 02-15-2011
Mike, hold your hat because your in for a double whammy.
If the FTR legislation passes, Hawaii County will divert some of the fuel tax revenue from the county roads you expect to be maintained, to pay for improvements to private roads. That means the County will have less to spend on the regular roads and that will have to be made up somewhere. The only option is to increase the FTR on everyone.
I know some on the west side are asking why not impose a surcharge on vehicles registered in the subdivisions or the districts that will benefit instead of everyone. Many people outside the Puna Kau area are asking why can't the subdivisions form a special assessment district and pay for maintenance of their own private roads using their own money. Why tax everyone? I know one person who wants to know if a shopping center in the North Kona District can’t get money to maintain their parking lot if people use it as a cut through.
RE: HPP Road fees - Greg - 02-15-2011
My subdivision has the overly reasonable annual road maintenance fee of $35. This amount hasn't been raised for several years. This is because unlike HPP, Leilani and other subdivisions, our fee is voluntary.
The realistic result is that we are unable to collect 80% of our fees. We cannot change this because all existing titles have no provision for road maintenance fees.
Because of this situation; We are unable to put down any meaningful new pavement, and struggle to maintain what we have. Another pitfal of non-mandatory road fees is that the V.A. won't lend in subdivisions without mandatory fees.
Don't complain too much if improvements are being made. Get involved with your homeowners association, and most of all; (fill in the blank).
RE: HPP Road fees - mikewj - 02-15-2011
HPP's road fees essentially comprise a special assessment district, the difference being that since it is not a gated community, anyone who wishes is able to use the roads. However, none of the road taxes collected from gas sales or vehicle registration go to pay for HPP's road maintenance.
Effectively the owners of property in HPP are subsidising use of their PRIVATE roads to the benefit of anyone who wishes to drive on them.
The point I was making in an earlier post is that I was aware of the road conditions when I bought the property, and am definitely not OK with having to pay to maintain an upgraded level of side roads which I would happily do without.