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There is a proposal from the Kenoi admin to raise the minimum property tax.
This might be good, might be bad. Just FYI
From West Hawaii Today:
County looks to disabled vets, poor for tax revenues.
http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/...ocal02.txt
Assume the best and ask questions.
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While it may seem fair that everyone should pay at least a token or minimal property tax, I remain convinced that the Mayor has NOT pursued all possible cuts in the County budget. He has not even come close to the cuts publicly claimed by his administration and refuses to comment on the inaccuracy of those claims as pointed out by local media.
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I totally agree Jerry. How do we hold this guy (and Council) accountable in real time?
Is everyone happy with their new tax bill? I'm certainly not!!!!
My assessment went up about 6%, understandable giventhat we'd finalled another permit. BUT. due to the mayor's rate changes, my tax bill went up 43%!!!!!! My apologies to the "share the wealth" crowd, but my AG situated structures are using 43% more county services.
David
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David, ag building tax rate went from 6.35% to 8.35%, an increase of 31.5%. With a 6% increase in assessment, it seems your tax bill for ag buildings should have increased by 39%.
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The minimum tax is $100 dollars a year. This is not a large sum of money if you own property. They get the same county police, fire, emergency medical, streets, roads, parks and all other services as everyone else without a reduction because they pay less property taxes. If you lost your job and were on unemployment, shouldn't you get a property tax reduction? You own property but don't live on Hawaii; you should be getting a property tax reduction because you use fewer services. Fact is, the minimum is a very small amount and if $100 is too much, maybe property ownership isn't for them.
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quote:
Originally posted by Bob Orts
Fact is, the minimum is a very small amount and if $100 is too much, maybe property ownership isn't for them.
I highly respect those who served our country and they deserve all the help they can get, but I agree with Bob on this one.
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John S. Rabi, GM,PB,ABR,CRB,CM,FHS
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johnrabi@johnrabi.com
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Poor people pay taxes everyday. People with more wealth can buy in bulk and can afford to shop around for better buying power. Many poor and elderly (vets and otherwise)are forced by circumstance to shop more closely to home and probably pay an even higher percentage per buying dollar than better off bulksters.
Leave them alone. Increase the tax on people that can better afford it. If a person can't afford a tax increase on their second home or investment property, well join the club.
It's tougher for everyone, but those pesky poor folk could use a break. What's the advantage of further endangering someone at risk? (Besides making more work for the County's well payed social service employees)
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quote:
Originally posted by Greg
It's tougher for everyone, but those pesky poor folk could use a break.
Poor folks?! My ex-wife married one of those Vietnam veterans, he is getting $5,000/month tax free, she makes $4,000/month, together that's much more than I make! (They do not pay property tax!) Tax them!
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,PB,ABR,CRB,CM,FHS
888.819.9669
johnrabi@johnrabi.com
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"
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I find it very interesting that many of the houses in my neighborhood (in Keaau town proper, with all of the services) do not even pay the "MINIMUM" taxes.... $75.00 per year is fairly common here... (that is $32.50 per installment) for families living with 2 working adults, and working college aged kids and grandma has a room, sometimes (or is living in the senior housing but her name is included with everyone else on the tax bill). This rate is also common for the retired field supervisors, living in "supervisor" homes that were built or moved into town in the 50's.
There is even one house that was set up in a trust account a couple of years ago (that's right, I track this stuff!), family is a couple of years younger than us, all working. Their taxes were slashed to 1/3 of the 2008 taxes (to just over $100)
WHY ON EARTH WOULD THE COUNTY DO THIS????
What I wanna know is WHY?
Although I really do believe we have a great bargain in our taxes, paying less than 1/10th what our last TAX RATE (mainland) was, and far less than 1/10 of the last mainland tax bill.... so I don't wanna rock the boat too much... but $75 a year???? for a really nice house, on a city street with city services???
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The maximum disability amount a veteran and spouse can collect from the VA is about $3000 a month for a 100% disability. With an additional $75/mo per child your ex and her disabled husband must have around 26 kids to collect $5000. That's a handful! I'd say cut them some slack.
But then again, he is one of "those" Vietnam Veterans.
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