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http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news...t-increase
But the term-limited Kenoi, who will no longer be in office when the measure would go into effect in 2018, told council members during a budget briefing Wednesday they should pass the measure, Bill 165, because the county might need the money.
What a legacy -- Kenoi's spending spree all but guarantees County "might need the money" by 2018.
"I want funding for transportation in Puna, but I firmly believe it should not be through a GET surcharge," Ilagan clarified in an April 6 letter to constituents.
Show of hands ... who thinks Puna would get any of this money?
Bonus question ... if another half-point of GET brings in $25-35M/year, and a roundabout costs $5M, how many "transportation projects" will the Big Island actually see?
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This mayor somehow still has supporters who love to go on about all he has done for "keiki, kipuna, and ohana." The fact that the GET is the most regressive of all taxes and falls most heavily on lower income people and families is conveniently forgotten when it comes time to feed the construction companies and unions who financed Kenoi's campaigns. Not only is GET regressive, it is partly hidden because unlike sales tax, it is applied at all levels of transactions. As kalakoa correctly points out, the bonded indebtedness spending spree has the potential to crimp the county's finances, particularly if a disaster were to require massive infrastructure repairs. (Federal disaster relief never pays for everything, btw.) Kenoi can't leave office without one last go at dipping into our pockets.
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Uncle Billy will go down as the mayor who added the most bond dept to the Big Island Treasury in the history of the island. Now he wants to make sure the county can pay for all his cronyism bonds that he provided to the unions who supported him. Try to get the County Finance Department to answer a simple question. "How much interest does the County pay on its debt?" You will get the most convoluted response you have ever heard.
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how many "transportation projects" will the Big Island actually see?
I agree with most of what is said about Billy (above), but I'd be happy to forgive and forget if he managed to leave office with a shovel ready 2nd highway project in and out of Puna as his legacy. I'd even be in favor of naming it the Billy Kenoi Puna Heritage Highway. Heck, I'd throw in the Billy Kenoi Keaau Public Library for good measure.
But instead we're offered the Billy Kenoi Perpetual Motion GET & County Debt Machine. Thanks for one last kick in the pants, mayor.
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." -Annie Dillard
"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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Billy has been concerned about keeping the flow of taxpayer money to the county.
He has shown no interest in economic development for the citizens of the county. No attempt to smooth out the zoning mess in Puna. Our towns and villages are a hodgepodge of residential, agricultural and commercial. It doesn't cost money to straighten that out.
Actually worked against FTR (Fuel Tax Revenue) being made available for maintaining the substandard roads. That money is already there, just not available to those who need it the most.
We have no business incubators or commercial kitchens in the districts but we are getting a $20M park for $58M.
Lightening up zoning to make it easier for home based cottage industries to thrive. That doesn't cost money.
Supporting rather than opposing an alternate route for Hilo was too much to expect.
The one's who have fared the best under Billy's leadership are county workers, county vendors, county consultants and county contractors. Maybe that's related to the $800k he got for elections. That $100+ million in debt primarily went to these county sponges.
I give Billy Kenoi something like a C- or D+.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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I give Billy Kenoi something like a C- or D+.
I would give him an F, if my grade mattered at all... but I don't have that kind of money...
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No attempt to smooth out the zoning mess in Puna.
Given the large "Keep It Country" contingent, it's less than clear that anyone actually cares about the problems created by Puna's "faux zoning" -- seems that very few people want any actual growth outside of Hilo.
Lightening up zoning to make it easier for home based cottage industries
The irony is almost painful: fixing the zoning problem is effectively "free" (worst case, add another staff position in Planning) and would grow the tax base without increasing taxes.
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Yes, between the "Keep it Country" faction and Kenoi's good old boy backers who want all meaningful economic activity in East Hawaii in Hilo, we are screwed. And don't hold your breath waiting for them to ease that compulsory trip to Hilo with more or better roads. That's not on their agenda either.
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don't hold your breath waiting for them to ease that compulsory trip to Hilo with more or better roads
I'm finding that this "problem" only affects those who "must" travel to Hilo ... and I feel sorry for them.
