01-14-2010, 05:08 PM
Posted on Behalf of the 2% Land Preservation Fund which was approved by a majority of Big Island voters in 2006... Moderator
2% for the Land Fund OR the HALF% land Fund?
DO you care about saving Hawaii Island's best places from development?
NOW is the time to ACT-at 2nd and Last reading.
NEXT CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING,
NEXT Thursday, January 21 at 11:00 at the Sheraton Keahou in the Council room
OR TESTIFY in Hilo or Waimea at the council offices
CONTAINED IN THIS EMAIL:
How you can help
What has occurred.
The process
Name of commissioners to talk to
URGENT!! we need your help TODAY!
Please email the Charter commission to reinstate the 2% set aside to buy open space, cultural spaces and Ag lands, 63% of us voted for this in 2006
ASK THEM TO ONCE AGAIN-
LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE
Send an email to Karen Eoff, commission secretary,
addressed to the charter commission
"Karen Eoff" <KEOFF@co.hawaii.hi.us>,
Here's a quick synopsis of what occurred: PLEASE fell free to USE THESE POINTS FOR A More detailed EMAIL TO THE CHARTER COMMISSIONERS.
The charter commission is a commission of citizens appointed by the Mayor to represent the citizens of Hawaii County. If you know any of the commissioners, please talk to them and tell them WHY the 2% Land Fund is so important and to ONCE again- LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE. This decision should not be up to the charter commission.
The charter amendment for 2% for the Land Fund was proposed to take the Land Fund deposits out of the county council's yearly budget wrangling. Charter amendments can only be changed by a vote of the people and not the council or the Mayor.
IF this amendment passes, there would be TWO WAYS to put money in the land fund. HALF% would be guaranteed by the charter amendment. ALL THAT WOULD BE GUARANTEED IS $1MILLION PER YEAR. The 2% for the land Fund would still be a bill (as it is now) and still be subject to yearly budget wrangling, suspension of the deposits or erasing the entire amount. If you remember over 3 months of council meetings and 150 people testifying, the council didn't listen.
Suspension of deposits to the Land Fund was the first piece of legislation introduced by the Kenoi administration. Government does not like special funds, which takes money out of their control. HOW MANY TIMES TO WE HAVE TO BATTLE FOR WHAT 63% of us VOTED FOR?
63% is a voter's mandate. THE DIFFICULT EFFORT OF THE Petition Initiative DRIVE: In 4 months in 2006, over 100 volunteers collected almost 10,000 signatures on a petition initiative to get the question on the ballot: Whether or not to set aside 2% of property taxes each to acquire Hawaii county's treasured lands. 63% of voters approved this measure. This is a resounding mandate for county government to save our treasured places. This charter amendment is an opportunity to once again: ONCE AGAIN LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.
2% of our property taxes are roughly $4 million per year. Half percent is roughly $1 million per year. The council prioritized 5 lands for acquisition values at approximately $28+ million. Pao'o - 2 acres in North Kohala for $2 million, which is adjacent to Kaiholena= 263 acres on the Kohala Coast for $13 million, 8 acres in Kona on the coast- for $8 million and Kawa Bay in Ka'u for $5 million. As you can see $1 million will not help us to obtain much land. NOW is the time to buy in a depressed real estate market.
The "great gift" of the Land Fund is to have dependable funding to get matching funds (usually dollar for dollar) from other government agencies. In the past Hawaii County has received matching funds from the State Legacy Lands, NOAA, and USFWS Endangered Species and private sources. We double our money with matching funds.
Important AG lands can be preserved with 2% funds. The County could buy conservation easements and "extinguish" the development rights on these lands, so they could be kept in AG uses forever and not lost to development.
The CHARTER AMENDMENT STATES THESE LANDS TO BE SAVED: Land for public recreation and education, including access to beaches and mountains; properties that preserve historic or culturally important land areas and sites; lands that protect our natural resources, including buffer zones and watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply; and to land to preserve the forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural lands.
Kauai and Maui set aside 1% of their property taxes each year and Oahu sets aside ½ percent per year. All of the other islands have a much larger tax base to draw from, more population and more properties to tax. For example, property taxes for Oahu were $791 million for 2007 to 2008. Half percent would be $3.95 million. Most of Oahu is developed or in Federal land for military bases. Kauai is 40% government land and is mostly developed.
It needs to be stated that this money is only for property acquisition; this is part of the charter amendment. If the money was used for maintenance there would be nothing left for purchasing land. Mayor Kim proposed this to the Open Space Commission and it was voted down.
Another comment, "We don't have the money to develop parks now, why should we buy the land if we cannot do anything with it?" The County can buy land and "land bank" the property until money comes available to develop it. This way we can take beach access, cultural sites and watersheds out of the "path of development" and keep these lands for residents to enjoy. Some lands, like watersheds and endangered species habitat should be left alone or minimally used.
Here's the process: Each charter amendment has to pass through 2 readings with 6 votes or it is voted down and the amendment dies. The HALF % amendment will live or die this time. The Half% Land Fund amendment is up for second reading. Then the Charter Commission takes the proposed charter amendments and submits them to the County council for comments. The Commission can choose to use or ignore the council's suggestions. Then the charter amendments are placed on the ballot.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE LETTER OF JUSTIFICATION GO TO:
http://www.dhecht.com/?page_id=81
If you would like a copy of the proposed charter amendment go to: http://www.hawaii-county.com/council/201...etings.htm go to the October 9th Charter Commission session and click on Comm. 45 from Debbie Hecht - which has the proposed legislation and the letter of explanation. The Kenoi Administration's appointee, Department of Finance Director has also introduced a shortened amendment Communication 105. If you would like this, please email me.
Some background on the charter commission: The charter commission is currently meeting to discuss changes in the county charter. The Mayor appoints this group every ten years to look at the charter and take suggestions from the public and county departments on changes.
Please- CAN YOU TALK TO THE Commission members? The members appointed are: Edmund Haitsuka- Attorney, Kona, Chairman, David Fuertes-north Kohala, Vice Chairman, Daphne Honma- high school teacher and UH basketball coach, Casey Jarman-professor and Dean, UH Richardson School of Law and ex- Hawaii county clerk, Guy Kaulukukui, Jamae Kawauchi-Hilo attorney, Joseph Kealoha-Retired police officer, Kohala, Alapaki Nahale-A- Director of Ka Umeke Ka'eo Hawaiian Immersion Public Charter School in Keaukaha, Hilo, Susie Osborne- Principal of Kea O Ka La Charter School in Puna, Todd Shumway- Director for Global Exchange at UH Hilo and Scott Unger- Manager of AmeriGas.
Please call with questions- 989-3222.
As always and BIG Mahalo for your help with saving land on our island!
Debbie Hecht,
Campaign Coordinator, 2% for the Land Fund and Save Our Lands Citizens Committee
989-3222 or hecht.deb@gmail.com[/font=Lucida Console]
DO you care about saving Hawaii Island's best places from development?
NOW is the time to ACT-at 2nd and Last reading.
NEXT CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING,
NEXT Thursday, January 21 at 11:00 at the Sheraton Keahou in the Council room
OR TESTIFY in Hilo or Waimea at the council offices
CONTAINED IN THIS EMAIL:
How you can help
What has occurred.
The process
Name of commissioners to talk to
URGENT!! we need your help TODAY!
Please email the Charter commission to reinstate the 2% set aside to buy open space, cultural spaces and Ag lands, 63% of us voted for this in 2006
ASK THEM TO ONCE AGAIN-
LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE
Send an email to Karen Eoff, commission secretary,
addressed to the charter commission
"Karen Eoff" <KEOFF@co.hawaii.hi.us>,
Here's a quick synopsis of what occurred: PLEASE fell free to USE THESE POINTS FOR A More detailed EMAIL TO THE CHARTER COMMISSIONERS.
The charter commission is a commission of citizens appointed by the Mayor to represent the citizens of Hawaii County. If you know any of the commissioners, please talk to them and tell them WHY the 2% Land Fund is so important and to ONCE again- LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE. This decision should not be up to the charter commission.
The charter amendment for 2% for the Land Fund was proposed to take the Land Fund deposits out of the county council's yearly budget wrangling. Charter amendments can only be changed by a vote of the people and not the council or the Mayor.
IF this amendment passes, there would be TWO WAYS to put money in the land fund. HALF% would be guaranteed by the charter amendment. ALL THAT WOULD BE GUARANTEED IS $1MILLION PER YEAR. The 2% for the land Fund would still be a bill (as it is now) and still be subject to yearly budget wrangling, suspension of the deposits or erasing the entire amount. If you remember over 3 months of council meetings and 150 people testifying, the council didn't listen.
Suspension of deposits to the Land Fund was the first piece of legislation introduced by the Kenoi administration. Government does not like special funds, which takes money out of their control. HOW MANY TIMES TO WE HAVE TO BATTLE FOR WHAT 63% of us VOTED FOR?
63% is a voter's mandate. THE DIFFICULT EFFORT OF THE Petition Initiative DRIVE: In 4 months in 2006, over 100 volunteers collected almost 10,000 signatures on a petition initiative to get the question on the ballot: Whether or not to set aside 2% of property taxes each to acquire Hawaii county's treasured lands. 63% of voters approved this measure. This is a resounding mandate for county government to save our treasured places. This charter amendment is an opportunity to once again: ONCE AGAIN LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.
2% of our property taxes are roughly $4 million per year. Half percent is roughly $1 million per year. The council prioritized 5 lands for acquisition values at approximately $28+ million. Pao'o - 2 acres in North Kohala for $2 million, which is adjacent to Kaiholena= 263 acres on the Kohala Coast for $13 million, 8 acres in Kona on the coast- for $8 million and Kawa Bay in Ka'u for $5 million. As you can see $1 million will not help us to obtain much land. NOW is the time to buy in a depressed real estate market.
The "great gift" of the Land Fund is to have dependable funding to get matching funds (usually dollar for dollar) from other government agencies. In the past Hawaii County has received matching funds from the State Legacy Lands, NOAA, and USFWS Endangered Species and private sources. We double our money with matching funds.
Important AG lands can be preserved with 2% funds. The County could buy conservation easements and "extinguish" the development rights on these lands, so they could be kept in AG uses forever and not lost to development.
The CHARTER AMENDMENT STATES THESE LANDS TO BE SAVED: Land for public recreation and education, including access to beaches and mountains; properties that preserve historic or culturally important land areas and sites; lands that protect our natural resources, including buffer zones and watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply; and to land to preserve the forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural lands.
Kauai and Maui set aside 1% of their property taxes each year and Oahu sets aside ½ percent per year. All of the other islands have a much larger tax base to draw from, more population and more properties to tax. For example, property taxes for Oahu were $791 million for 2007 to 2008. Half percent would be $3.95 million. Most of Oahu is developed or in Federal land for military bases. Kauai is 40% government land and is mostly developed.
It needs to be stated that this money is only for property acquisition; this is part of the charter amendment. If the money was used for maintenance there would be nothing left for purchasing land. Mayor Kim proposed this to the Open Space Commission and it was voted down.
Another comment, "We don't have the money to develop parks now, why should we buy the land if we cannot do anything with it?" The County can buy land and "land bank" the property until money comes available to develop it. This way we can take beach access, cultural sites and watersheds out of the "path of development" and keep these lands for residents to enjoy. Some lands, like watersheds and endangered species habitat should be left alone or minimally used.
Here's the process: Each charter amendment has to pass through 2 readings with 6 votes or it is voted down and the amendment dies. The HALF % amendment will live or die this time. The Half% Land Fund amendment is up for second reading. Then the Charter Commission takes the proposed charter amendments and submits them to the County council for comments. The Commission can choose to use or ignore the council's suggestions. Then the charter amendments are placed on the ballot.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE LETTER OF JUSTIFICATION GO TO:
http://www.dhecht.com/?page_id=81
If you would like a copy of the proposed charter amendment go to: http://www.hawaii-county.com/council/201...etings.htm go to the October 9th Charter Commission session and click on Comm. 45 from Debbie Hecht - which has the proposed legislation and the letter of explanation. The Kenoi Administration's appointee, Department of Finance Director has also introduced a shortened amendment Communication 105. If you would like this, please email me.
Some background on the charter commission: The charter commission is currently meeting to discuss changes in the county charter. The Mayor appoints this group every ten years to look at the charter and take suggestions from the public and county departments on changes.
Please- CAN YOU TALK TO THE Commission members? The members appointed are: Edmund Haitsuka- Attorney, Kona, Chairman, David Fuertes-north Kohala, Vice Chairman, Daphne Honma- high school teacher and UH basketball coach, Casey Jarman-professor and Dean, UH Richardson School of Law and ex- Hawaii county clerk, Guy Kaulukukui, Jamae Kawauchi-Hilo attorney, Joseph Kealoha-Retired police officer, Kohala, Alapaki Nahale-A- Director of Ka Umeke Ka'eo Hawaiian Immersion Public Charter School in Keaukaha, Hilo, Susie Osborne- Principal of Kea O Ka La Charter School in Puna, Todd Shumway- Director for Global Exchange at UH Hilo and Scott Unger- Manager of AmeriGas.
Please call with questions- 989-3222.
As always and BIG Mahalo for your help with saving land on our island!
Debbie Hecht,
Campaign Coordinator, 2% for the Land Fund and Save Our Lands Citizens Committee
989-3222 or hecht.deb@gmail.com[/font=Lucida Console]
Assume the best and ask questions.
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Punaweb moderator