Kenoi supports GET increase

[Rob Tucker]

county permitted the Puna subdivisions and HOVE in violation of their own development codes

Yet somehow this violation has never been prosecuted.

The subdivisions need to get together and file suit. They would win.

[kalakoa]

The subdivisions need to get together and file suit. They would win.

At which point County would be forced to raise taxes to cover the cost of lawsuits, road maintenance, etc.

Then again ... taxes will be going up anyway, the people (in these subdivisions) might as well benefit.

[Rob Tucker]

Losing such a suit is why it would be smart for the county to start on a path of a reasonable solution for the substandard roads.

If the county was to lose a suit or a civil rights complaint it could bankrupt the county.

[kalakoa]

If the county was to lose a suit or a civil rights complaint it could bankrupt the county.

I'm not sure that would be such a bad thing.

[Obie]

Greggor Ilagon has started a petition to oppose the GET increase.It's an easy way to have your voice heard without going to a public hearing and competing with the Puna Wackadoodles.


https://www.change.org/p/greggor-ilagan-oppose-an-increase-of-the-general-excise-tax-bill-165?recruiter=24833682&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

[Anxious Messiah]

quote:

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Originally posted by Rob Tucker


county permitted the Puna subdivisions and HOVE in violation of their own development codes

Yet somehow this violation has never been prosecuted.

The subdivisions need to get together and file suit. They would win.

---

Too bad the various Associations are too busy in-fighting amongst themselves to ever be organized enough to band together in their own best interests. A longstanding and familiar tune here in the islands...

_________________________________________
Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence.

[kalakoa]

Too bad the various Associations are too busy in-fighting amongst themselves

Ironically, they're often fighting over who will control the money that they raised to maintain their private roads...

[BillyB]

When the State increased the gas tax by 5 cents it was sold to the public as necessary to maintain the roads.

OK if it's for the road maintenance we said.

Well at that time the GET from gas also went to the highway maintenance fund. Guess what; the bill raised the tax on gas, but also removed the GET tax from the highway fund. Gas was then $2.00 a gallon. To save the highways they put 5 cents in and took 8 cents out.

Don't be fooled by the claim it can only be used for highways. It will just replace money presently used from the general fund. The roads will stay the same.

There is no need to be efficient if cost is irrelevant. It's called tax and spend.

Sign Greggor's petition.

https://www.change.org/p/greggor-ilagan-oppose-an-increase-of-the-general-excise-tax-bill-165?recruiter=24833682&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

P.S. Harry Kim increased the minimum property tax to $100. in 2002.

[kalakoa]

When the State increased the gas tax by 5 cents it was sold to the public as necessary to maintain the roads.

State said the same thing when they increased the vehicle weight tax.

Don't be fooled by the claim it can only be used for highways.

Financial shenanigans are well-documented in Land and Power. Favorite gambit is moving the funds around so as to not to be subject to other laws, such as when excess taxes collected must be returned to the public -- but once those monies are moved out of the general fund, the requirement magically no longer applies.

[Aaron S]

quote:

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Originally posted by BillyB
Don't be fooled by the claim it can only be used for highways. It will just replace money presently used from the general fund. The roads will stay the same.

There is no need to be efficient if cost is irrelevant. It's called tax and spend.

Sign Greggor's petition.

https://www.change.org/p/greggor-ilagan-oppose-an-increase-of-the-general-excise-tax-bill-165?recruiter=24833682&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

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I was reading the comments to Gregor's petition. The individuals who left comments on that petition have no clue how new roadways are funded here. It isn't via property taxes, or through the transit accommodation tax.

The county has two ways to fund new roads. The Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (Federal Highway Administration funds), and by the county floating bonds.

The state has changed their long term plans. They're refocusing on maintaining their existing inventory of roads instead of building new ones. This means the burden of building new roads will again fall on to county.

The other wrinkle to this is the fact the Federal Highway Trust Fund is nearly insolvent, so the FHWA will be probably distributing less Federal highway funds to the states in the coming years. In short, the county is going to need to find local sources to fund these projects. If they don't, expect more traffic congestion in the coming years.