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http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/news/loca...nt-ag-land
Owners of vacant land in agricultural zones would get a break on their property taxes even if they're not actively farming the land, under a bill to be considered Tuesday by the County Council Finance Committee.
Confused, as usual: how will we pay for all these tax breaks?
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The spending spree needs to stop. I wonder how many additional county employees have been added during the current administration?
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Hawaii County logic:
Build $30 million dollars of unused roads; Railroad Ave & Chain of Craters.
Lower property taxes on unused ag land to make it more difficult to pay for construction of unused roads.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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You people are silly. This is a bill to raise taxes. There is a blanket ag land exemption now and this bill is going to make the owners of that land prove there it is for ag or planned (waiting for plants to grow like coffee and papaya). They have 3 years to prove it is ag land to get the tax break. If they fail to prove it is nothing more than vacant land (all the land in Hawaii is ag land), then it will be taxed at the market value rate, not the ag discount. This is another Wille bill to clamp down on scofflaws.
"Aloha also means goodbye. Aloha!"
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*
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pahoated:
You people are silly. This is a bill to raise taxes.
From the article:
The county administration, however, isn’t keen on the measure. Finance Director Deanna Sako said Wednesday that Wille had met with her a few months ago on the bill, but she is concerned about the vacant land provision because it would cost the county about $3 million more in lost taxes.
Question?
How does the county raise taxes, and manage to lose $3 million dollars in the process?
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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The proposed bill would grant ag exemptions for vacant lots provided the owner can "prove" that they "intend" to actually farm the land at some future time; these are expected to cost $3M/year.
Removing the "nondedicated" exemption is a separate issue. That said, there are plenty of properly "dedicated" ag exemptions which aren't deserved; some of these even apply to vacant lots.
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"That said, there are plenty of properly "dedicated" ag exemptions which aren't deserved; some of these even apply to vacant lots."
Too true!
Just for fun I threw a dart at Hamakua coast ocean front lots to see if I could find an example of something with the scent of patis.
Well the first lot was a residence and was assessed at 800+K and is paying the homeowner rate, so paying $2,575 taxes per year. OK.
Oh, but his neighbor, a doctor in Honolulu has a 3 acre lot with a land market value of $337 K, and a dedicated use value of $6,300 plus a shed for a $198. tax per year. From Google maps you can see that the field is mowed grass, so it look's like the County subsidizes his lawn to the tune of $3,000+ a year until he can retire and build his dream house.
It took five minutes to find something suspicious with a point and click random search. With the tax map and Google maps it is not a hard job to catch a whiff. Try it for your self.
FYI: Two of the next three vacant lots were also doing the same thing.
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My neighbor has a small house, we both do... He seriously can't afford to pay the taxes with all the booze they drink...
Anyway... He is already behind on his taxes for 4-5 years. He has not paid a penny for his taxes. Wasn't much ... I think around 500 a year. Anyway, I was talking with him last year and he said he had readjusted his property for farming and told me I should too, as he said he won't have to pay taxes anymore. These are "RESIDENTIAL" lots mind you and only .3 acre lots at that. He has a pretty good size avocado tree and tons of coconut trees growing around... Not much farming going on, matter of fact most of the avocado are rotting on the ground. Anyway, I'm snooping around the property tax website... and sure enough! His taxes dropped to like 50 bucks a year!!! Damn... I figure one day he will be caught??? But, now maybe not. I wonder if anyone that is caught ... Will they have to pay all the back taxes? Probably not. I thought about filling out the form as well for my own house. If we ever sell, it may look strange seeing such low taxes and who knows. Probably get busted and have to pay back with interest. But, it's just incredibly easy to do! I doubt anyone even drives out to look at your lot to check it's being used for farming. They just assume you are truthful and presto! You get a huge tax break.
Now, I don't mind my neighbor that is poor already doing this... but rich a-hole doctors that own ocean front property should be nailed to the wall and hung out to dry. JMO!
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Now, I don't mind my neighbor that is poor already doing this... but rich a-hole doctors that own ocean front property should be nailed to the wall and hung out to dry. JMO!
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A cheat is a cheat. Period.
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A cheat is a cheat. Period.
A Hawaiian Acres shack-dweller taking the resident homeowner deduction might pay as little as $25/year, or about $8.33/acre. Cheating?
Somehow, the vast Shipman holdings are taxed at an even lower rate. Cheating?
