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Why is this a discussion of educational needs?
The bill, when first written, was explicitly focused on education. The bill as it appears on the ballot, not so much. Isn't that enough to warrant concern? Isn't it more important to ask why the changes and what the motive behind them is rather than fall blindly into a discussion of whether we need more funding for education?
I agree with the need for more funding for education. If that was what this bill was about I would be banging on the vote yes drum long and loud. But this is not about education. This is purely about the state's right to muscle in on the county's kuleana and rob the one revenue source that keeps our county viable. To vote yes on this measure is to condemn any resemblance we have left of home rule.
Do not be duped. Vote no on this misguided measure. Please.
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Would you vote Yes if the tax applied to you?
Excellent question, but perhaps not as intended.
This tax increase applies to everyone, because taxation is a finite resource. Pretending that "this tax applies only to some people" is a fiction, as is the idea that "certain people should pay more because they can afford it". The rest of us will make up the difference.
Owners of "investment" property (and airbnb hosts, others) are already paying more, but that money isn't going directly to government, and some of it is untaxed (does that gardener pay GET? the housekeeper? sometimes, not always). Tax "modernization" is about control as much as it is about revenue.
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Would you vote Yes if the tax applied to you?
Speculative.
It might already apply to me. If it doesn't and theoretically I inherit a bunch of land with a house or two over a million, I think I would be voting yes too.
I have worked for the DOE so I know the situations in our schools. Some people who haven't may not have seen the "light" yet? The stats speak for themselves though with Hawaii having one of the worst education systems in USA and Hawaii being unable to secure "good" teachers because of the piss-poor wages in the state.
check box YES on con-am.
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Speculative. It might already apply to me.
Speculative: it doesn't apply to you today, but could apply to you in the future.
Again: this ConAm grants State the power to tax real estate without setting a rate or describing which real estate is to be taxed (unless they somehow managed to revert to an earlier revision which included those stipulations).
All real estate is an "investment", even if you live there.
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http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2018/10/1...education/
Gov. David Ige lent his political weight ... promising to veto any resulting bill that might raise property taxes for owner-occupied homes or increase rents on affordable housing.
The governor also pledged to oppose using property taxes to replace general funds for education.
Promises from current governor need not be honored by a future governor -- assuming Ige doesn't break his promise before then.
That Ige needs to "pledge" like this suggests that the ConAm is flawed. If the State is really only going to tax "investment property" and "make sure the revenue goes to education", why not frame that intent as part of the amendment where it becomes legally binding?
Meanwhile:
http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2018/10/1...a-volcano/
No special treatment for the other end of the tax base where job creators work to attract tourism dollars...
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The stats speak for themselves though with Hawaii having one of the worst education systems in USA and Hawaii being unable to secure "good" teachers because of the piss-poor wages in the state.
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The DOE gets plenty money. They waste it. Period.
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On the news this evening the State now admits that the tax can be applied to owner/occupant homes.
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"On the news this evening the State now admits that the tax can be applied to owner/occupant homes."
I hope it applies to all owner/occupant homes, spread the joy of helping the kids.
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It might just be removed from the ballot. Even if not, maybe you did influence my decision, dude from Leilani. You and all the others screaming NO for this.
https://www.khon2.com/news/local-news/ha...1534044890
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Fun Facts:National Education Association ranked Hawaii dead last in student performance, average per pupil expenditure of $12,000, only 16 states spend more, 2 billion dollar budget for 180,000 students, average teacher salary $56,000(not starting salary),
All student ranking took poverty levels into account.
No guesses here, no rumors, just the facts from a very reputable and respected organization.
BTW, I taught special education in public schools for twelve years.
