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+--- Thread: Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! (/showthread.php?tid=11348)
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Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! - Rob Tucker - 01-25-2013
Aloha all,
The County Fuel Tax bill submitted by Senator Ruderman has been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan 29 at 2:45pm in room 224.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2013/hearingnotices/HEARING_PSM-TIA_01-29-13_.HTM
i
mportant to the folks living in the subdivisions of Puna and Ka`u. It would allow the County of Hawaii to expend fuel tax monies on the maintenance of private subdivision roads open to the public.
Please consider submitting testimony. Just click on the link where you can click on the full text of the bill and click on the Testimony icon to submit your testimony.
RE: Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! - kalakoa - 01-26-2013
Awesome. Just a few small changes:
1. Remove sunset provision in section 3.
2. Replace section 1(8) "may be expended" with statutory apportionment based on simple "percent of total miles of road".
3. Apportioned tax revenue to be retroactive. Past-due amount to be paid over 10 years.
4. Ideally, section 1(8) should include an explicit waiver of relevant County codes which would otherwise prohibit their involvement. Alternately, some instruction to designate all such "substandard" roads as "alleys" per 23-41(a).
5. Broadly construed, section 1(9) would seem to allow denial of funding based on a theory that roads "are used, or could be used" for some nefarious purpose on the latest DHS List of Suspicious Behavior, but this only happens if there's actual money at stake, so probably never.
RE: Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! - csgray - 01-27-2013
I see that in Ruderman's wish list for Puna he specified that the PMAR be along Railroad. It is my understanding that much of the right of way for railroad has been vacated over the years and that where it does exist it is much narrower than even the other HPP roads, and that most of the discussion about possible routes ended up dismissing Railroad as a route because it would cost more and was opposed by Shipman Ltd. Does anyone have any idea what the thinking behind choosing Railroad for this proposal was?
I also just read that less than 1% of proposed legislation in Hawaii actually becomes law, so we should all probably not hold our breaths on any of this.
Carol
RE: Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! - JerryCarr - 01-27-2013
Carol, the HPP Committee on PMAR has contacted Sen. Ruderman's office regarding his PMAR proposal. We are waiting to hear back from them regarding the rationale for it. You are quite correct about the railroad right of way having been vacated. Both the County Planning Department and the Puna Community Development Plan have specifically excluded this route for the reasons you mentioned and others.
RE: Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! - opihikao - 01-30-2013
quote:Great post!
Originally posted by kalakoa
Awesome. Just a few small changes:
1. Remove sunset provision in section 3.
2. Replace section 1(8) "may be expended" with statutory apportionment based on simple "percent of total miles of road".
3. Apportioned tax revenue to be retroactive. Past-due amount to be paid over 10 years.
4. Ideally, section 1(8) should include an explicit waiver of relevant County codes which would otherwise prohibit their involvement. Alternately, some instruction to designate all such "substandard" roads as "alleys" per 23-41(a).
5. Broadly construed, section 1(9) would seem to allow denial of funding based on a theory that roads "are used, or could be used" for some nefarious purpose on the latest DHS List of Suspicious Behavior, but this only happens if there's actual money at stake, so probably never.
FYI: Update
http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/news/local-news/lawmakers-let-county-use-fuel-tax-funds-private-roads.html
Send in testimony, please. We need these funds, and can educate the likes of Mr. Lee later (see his comments in article above). JMO.
RE: Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! - Obie - 01-30-2013
I fail to see how this bill is going to do much good.
"The county is expecting to receive $7.6 million in fuel tax revenue this fiscal year. That has to be split up among about 1,000 miles of public roads, said Warren Lee, county public works director."
HPP right now needs about 20 million to finish their roads.If all of the tax revenue for the next 3 years is devoted to HPP roads,it could be done.
Where would that leave the rest of us who don't live there ?? Don't the rest of the subdivisions deserve some of the revenue ??
The reality is that it will take many many years before all of the roads are paved!!
RE: Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! - james weatherford - 01-30-2013
As Rob explained in the original post, this is about funds for "maintenance of private subdivision roads open to the public" and in no way targeted narrowly at paving previously unpaved roads.
RE: Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! - rainyjim - 01-30-2013
catch me up here...what is the reason "all" roads must be paved?
Never underestimate the power of the dark side.
RE: Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! - dwedeking - 01-30-2013
Because I didn't realize when the realtor said rural he meant rural like undeveloped. I thought he meant rural like fancy horse farms and stuff. And when we flew over the property in the tour copter it didn't look that rough.
So that now we have made a mistake moving to the country we would like you to pay some more road fees to make up for our mistake. And how about some sidewalks too, we had those in suburbia and they were keen. K thanks.
Oh and while your at it could you make it illegal to fly those annoying tours, we don't need one now and they upset my mousey house dog.
(i realize this bill doesn't raise tax rates but it didn't go along with my sarcastic rant lol)
RE: Fuel Tax Revenue bill at the Senate - Testimony! - Rob Tucker - 01-30-2013
Rainyjim,
There is no reason or request for all roads or any roads to be paved. So I am unable to provide an answer to your question.