12-30-2018, 07:01 AM
I received this today regarding the 2% Land Fund. This Land Fund was hard fought a several years back. The local powers that be frankly resent having The People direct how any county money is spent so it appears the Hilo cartel is making moves to cut it down or shut it down. They apparently haven't figured out how to skim this fund yet.
Your testimony is invited.
Rob
Please forward to friends and family on the Big Island.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! The Charter Commission is meeting on January 11th at 1:30 in Hilo. You can testify from Kona or send an email.
Please attend and comment on the following Amendments and/ or send an email. EMAIL INFORMATION BELOW.
NO to Communication 21 for Charter Amendment 7: To GUT the 2% LAND FUND PROGRAM by:
Reducing the amount deposited in the 2% Land Fund from 2% (approximately $5 million) to ¾% of property taxes,( which is approximately $1.5 million per year) Remember the Land Fund was approved 3 times by 63% of voters.
Removing the Maintenance Fund from the charter and placing it in the Code where the County council and Mayor can hack away at the program and amount at each council meeting. Remember the 2% Land Fund had deposits suspended for two years when Mayor Kenoi took office which is why we wanted it in the Charter, where it can only be changed by a vote of the people.
Deleting the clause that says that the 2% Lands CANNOT be sold mortgaged or transferred in any way. This will limit matching fund sources. Why would donors want to contribute if the Mayor or Council can sell these lands and put the money in the General Fund? Mayor Kim said he wanted to sell the lands because we cannot care for them? Huh? We have a Maintenance Fund!
YES to Communication 24 for Charter Amendment 9: Proposal to strengthen the 2% Land Fund Program by using 2% Land Fund monies to fund a staff position in the Department of Finance to work ONLY on the 2% Land Fund Program for acquisitions, obtaining matching funds and assisting with stewardship grants. We propose that a dedicated staff person who works ONLY on the 2% Land Fund program will get more properties purchased and acquire more matching funds. Remember that 180 properties have been proposed and only 14 properties have been acquired, since 2006. There is currently $16 million in the fund and much more can be done to actively pursue more properties. A dedicated staff will be able to assist the non-profits who care for these lands in their communities to acquire stewardship grants.
LOOKING FORWARD: We have a proposal coming forward at the CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 8TH, to strengthen the Land Fund’s Maintenance Fund Program, IN KONA. Save the date!
TO SEND AN EMAIL:
CUT AND PASTE send to: Charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov
CUT AND PASTE this subject line: STRENGTHEN THE LAND FUND
CUT AND PASTE this message or create your own:
Aloha Charter Commission members!
We SUPPORT STRENGTHENING THE 2% LAND FUND PROGRAM! WE support using a portion of the 2% Land Fund monies to pay a staff person who is dedicated to the administration of the 2% Land Fund Program. We believe that this would result in more properties being acquired, more matching funds being obtained and more stewardship grants being awarded. Citizens have proposed 180 properties, since 2004 and only 14 have been acquired. We can change this and strengthen the 2% Land Fund Program by having a dedicated staff member who works ONLY on the 2% Land Fund Program.
The 2% Land Fund Program has been very successful. In the last 14 years, 4,400 have been acquired on the Big Island for a cost of $27 million, one third of which was from matching funds. There is one more property that should close soon in Ka’u, which is 2,200 acres. The land fund is working to preserve Hawaii Island's treasured lands, but we can make it more successful by having a dedicated staff member. In addition we must retain the following clause to obtain matching funds and protects these lands in perpetuity that says: “This property (or easement) was acquired with money from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. It shall be held in perpetuity for the use and enjoyment of the people of Hawai’i County and may not be sold, mortgaged, traded or transferred in any way.”
Mahalo for your kokua to save Hawaii Island’s treasured places.
Sign your name
__________________________________________
More information on the 2% LAND FUND PROGRAM: https://debbiehecht.com/2018/03/09/hawai...-3-9-2018/
Questions or comments? If you would like to receive email updates please send your name to me.
Debbie Hecht,
Campaign Coordinator Save our Lands Citizen's Committee
(808) 989-3222
Your testimony is invited.
Rob
Please forward to friends and family on the Big Island.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! The Charter Commission is meeting on January 11th at 1:30 in Hilo. You can testify from Kona or send an email.
Please attend and comment on the following Amendments and/ or send an email. EMAIL INFORMATION BELOW.
NO to Communication 21 for Charter Amendment 7: To GUT the 2% LAND FUND PROGRAM by:
Reducing the amount deposited in the 2% Land Fund from 2% (approximately $5 million) to ¾% of property taxes,( which is approximately $1.5 million per year) Remember the Land Fund was approved 3 times by 63% of voters.
Removing the Maintenance Fund from the charter and placing it in the Code where the County council and Mayor can hack away at the program and amount at each council meeting. Remember the 2% Land Fund had deposits suspended for two years when Mayor Kenoi took office which is why we wanted it in the Charter, where it can only be changed by a vote of the people.
Deleting the clause that says that the 2% Lands CANNOT be sold mortgaged or transferred in any way. This will limit matching fund sources. Why would donors want to contribute if the Mayor or Council can sell these lands and put the money in the General Fund? Mayor Kim said he wanted to sell the lands because we cannot care for them? Huh? We have a Maintenance Fund!
YES to Communication 24 for Charter Amendment 9: Proposal to strengthen the 2% Land Fund Program by using 2% Land Fund monies to fund a staff position in the Department of Finance to work ONLY on the 2% Land Fund Program for acquisitions, obtaining matching funds and assisting with stewardship grants. We propose that a dedicated staff person who works ONLY on the 2% Land Fund program will get more properties purchased and acquire more matching funds. Remember that 180 properties have been proposed and only 14 properties have been acquired, since 2006. There is currently $16 million in the fund and much more can be done to actively pursue more properties. A dedicated staff will be able to assist the non-profits who care for these lands in their communities to acquire stewardship grants.
LOOKING FORWARD: We have a proposal coming forward at the CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 8TH, to strengthen the Land Fund’s Maintenance Fund Program, IN KONA. Save the date!
TO SEND AN EMAIL:
CUT AND PASTE send to: Charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov
CUT AND PASTE this subject line: STRENGTHEN THE LAND FUND
CUT AND PASTE this message or create your own:
Aloha Charter Commission members!
We SUPPORT STRENGTHENING THE 2% LAND FUND PROGRAM! WE support using a portion of the 2% Land Fund monies to pay a staff person who is dedicated to the administration of the 2% Land Fund Program. We believe that this would result in more properties being acquired, more matching funds being obtained and more stewardship grants being awarded. Citizens have proposed 180 properties, since 2004 and only 14 have been acquired. We can change this and strengthen the 2% Land Fund Program by having a dedicated staff member who works ONLY on the 2% Land Fund Program.
The 2% Land Fund Program has been very successful. In the last 14 years, 4,400 have been acquired on the Big Island for a cost of $27 million, one third of which was from matching funds. There is one more property that should close soon in Ka’u, which is 2,200 acres. The land fund is working to preserve Hawaii Island's treasured lands, but we can make it more successful by having a dedicated staff member. In addition we must retain the following clause to obtain matching funds and protects these lands in perpetuity that says: “This property (or easement) was acquired with money from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. It shall be held in perpetuity for the use and enjoyment of the people of Hawai’i County and may not be sold, mortgaged, traded or transferred in any way.”
Mahalo for your kokua to save Hawaii Island’s treasured places.
Sign your name
__________________________________________
More information on the 2% LAND FUND PROGRAM: https://debbiehecht.com/2018/03/09/hawai...-3-9-2018/
Questions or comments? If you would like to receive email updates please send your name to me.
Debbie Hecht,
Campaign Coordinator Save our Lands Citizen's Committee
(808) 989-3222
Assume the best and ask questions.
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Punaweb moderator