The subtle ways Puna gets screwed (Bill 79)

[Rob Tucker]

I have not been suggesting that the CoH pave private roads or maintain them. I don't think the word paving was mentioned. What I am suggesting is that Fuel Tax Revenue, paid by most everyone, be disbursed equitably to all entities which maintain roads which are open to and available for public use.

In that manner Fuel Tax Revenue would go proportionally to the CoH Public Works Department and various non-profit road maintenance associations and all citizens would benefit equally from their taxes.

[JerryCarr]

As an HPP resident, I can tell you that our "private" roads are available to anyone who chooses to drive on them. That includes everything from grandma coming out from Hilo to visit the family to heavy equipment transporters. We pay our share of the fuel tax and property taxes to the County and get no help with our roads. I don't expect the County to pave our roads, though. We are making quite enough of a mess out of that without their expert help at mess making. It would be nice, however, to get some maintenance assistance in return for the taxes we pay to maintain other people's roads.

The County gets to have its cake and eat it too with regard to private subdivision roads in Puna. They get better tax revenue off the properties because most of the subdivisions maintain the roads just well enough to keep property values at a decent level for assessment purposes. The County does not, however, have to spend anything in return for that enhanced tax revenue. What a deal!