property tax increase "emergency"

[kalakoa]

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2018...tax-hikes/

County has lost "up to" $6M in property tax revenue due to the emergency. It's a real problem, what with all the "extra costs" and "recent raises", so I'll offer some constructive suggestions:

1. Expedite land acquisition/rebuilding for those who lost their homes. HPIA helped create the problem, HPIA should help solve the problem. There are plenty of lots for sale, and no reason a permitted home can't be finaled in 3 months if the building department were motivated (say, by the need for revenue). Replacement homes don't just create property tax revenue, they also allow people to keep contributing to the economy.

2. Expedite "as-built" permits for those who want to "go legit", because a finaled house has higher value and thus pays more property tax. As an extra added bonus, the recent large earthquakes have given all these structures a "stress test", making structural flaws more apparent.

I realize this is like actual work; it's far easier to just increase the property tax rate, and foolish to expect any kind of proactive effort from County...

[Chunkster]

In the build-up to the excise tax increase proposal, Harry says he ordered all the county departments to do a budget review to see where cuts could be made. Of course, none of them found any. Imagine that! These weasels never saw a dollar in your pocket that they didn't want for enriching the public employees and their unions. After all, those are the people who put them in office and the only ones who matter. Eileen Ohara actually told a friend of mine (no hearsay, I saw the email) that it wasn't her job to restrain the county budget. "That's the mayor's job." What a piece of work!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Harry says he ordered all the county departments to do a budget review to see where cuts could be made

The county should implement this procedure with taxpayers when a tax increase is proposed.
"Residents of Hawaii County. Please review your household budget and expenses, then let us know whether you can afford our new tax increase proposal. Please respond within 30 days."

I'd anticipate most replies would be received within 24 hours.

Portion of Hawaii’s drinking water that comes from underground wells : 9/10
Gallons of raw sewage that leak into the ground from Hawaii cesspools each day : 53,000,000 - Harper's Index

[punaticbychoice]

kalakoa, Chunkster and especially HOTPE- 08:16:48 to 09:39:15-
An emphatic yes and amen to all.

"A cynic is an optimist with experience."

[kalakoa]

see where cuts could be made. Of course, none of them found any

We merely have to force their hand on this. Richards is doing an excellent job; if we prevent any new revenue, they will have to find cuts. Loss of services would be unfortunate, but the public outrage could be useful in driving real changes.

[AlohaDave]

quote:

---

Originally posted by kalakoa

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2018...tax-hikes/

County has lost "up to" $6M in property tax revenue due to the emergency. It's a real problem, what with all the "extra costs" and "recent raises", so I'll offer some constructive suggestions:

1. Expedite land acquisition/rebuilding for those who lost their homes. HPIA helped create the problem, HPIA should help solve the problem. There are plenty of lots for sale, and no reason a permitted home can't be finaled in 3 months if the building department were motivated (say, by the need for revenue). Replacement homes don't just create property tax revenue, they also allow people to keep contributing to the economy.

2. Expedite "as-built" permits for those who want to "go legit", because a finaled house has higher value and thus pays more property tax. As an extra added bonus, the recent large earthquakes have given all these structures a "stress test", making structural flaws more apparent.

I realize this is like actual work; it's far easier to just increase the property tax rate, and foolish to expect any kind of proactive effort from County...

---

Being a shill for realtors won't solve the problem. Most of the people lost everything.

With the continued cracking, most of the area will be uninhabitable in a few months

[punaticbychoice]

AlohaDave @ 13:17:16 05/22/2018-

Meaning?

"A cynic is an optimist with experience".

[AlohaDave]

quote:

---

Originally posted by punaticbychoice

AlohaDave @ 13:17:16 05/22/2018-

Meaning?

"A cynic is an optimist with experience".

---

I began to explain here here: http://punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24678

before the anti government and drug induced clowns tried to sabotage it with the belief that the situation was some sort of joke.


Simply put, i stated...

1 people are going to lose their places to live.
a The gas and cracks will make the area unlivable
b People without homes breed crime
c people without places to live tend to lose their jobs
d The loss of homes will lower the tax base.
e The loss of homes will affect the whole economy of the county

2 There is ample State land
a The eastern rift zone should have a new building ban
b a land swap should be developed to maintain the tax base and allow people to rebuild and keep the economy moving
c The eastern rift zone should have not been allowed to be developed as a residential area. (Blame the state)
d If you allow people to rebuild in safer areas, the economy will not be decimated and a building boon could even occur.
e smart people will not rebuild in leilani and the surrounding areas
when gas and cracking will continue for many years.

3 A land swap of sorts has been done federally for people along the Mississippi River. Our State can do much the same.
a the cost of rebuilding leilani and surrounding area over and over will far outweigh the States ability to maintain the tax base.
b the cost of helco replacing wires on a regular basis in a hot zone will only raise everyone rates

4 the role of government is to help the people.
a speak up and use common sense to help, the state should have a plan to move ALL the people out of this area into safer regions.
b People living in the jungle or in areas filled with dangerous gas is bad. People will not move off the island in most cases. It could be your neighborhood next.

[ironyak]

AlohaDave - the role of government is to help the people.

Says you.

While your ideas are sensible, they stem from different motivations than the powers-that-be IMHO. Doesn't cost them a dime to rebuild houses or power lines - they actually justify new hires and make money from those activities.

A cynic is a realist that lives in Hawaii.

[kalakoa]

different motivations than the powers-that-be

Understatement -- government no longer "serves" or even "represents" The People, it has its own agenda.