• Facing tax shock Facing tax shock To Mayor Baptiste and the County Council: TAX SHOCK!! I almost had a heart attack this morning when I opened my property tax bill. Among the various problems on the island (ice, gridlock
• Facing tax shock
Facing tax shock
To Mayor Baptiste and the County Council: TAX SHOCK!! I almost had a heart attack this morning when I opened my property tax bill. Among the various problems on the island (ice, gridlock traffic, high electric rates, etc), the astronomical property tax increases of the last few years (mine have tripled in 3 years with another raise due next year) must be addressed as a priority. Otherwise, my family and many other moderate income families will be driven off Kaua‘i. I cannot afford to pay the county $3,000 per year for the privilige of living on Kaua‘i. I am paying for gov’t employees to receive generous health benefits and retirement packages while I have none of these benefits at my job. Is this fair? I cannot afford to pay $250 per month to send a non-property owners child to public school. Is it fair for senior citizens to pay for other people’s children to go to school? It is time to address the basic concepts of taxation rather than focus upon band-aid patches such as safe house and low income exemptions.
The basic problem, as I see it, is the “recent comparable sales” approach to valuations. Why should my property tax go up just because some wealthy person pays 3 mil for the house next door? My actual value may or may not go up due to this high end sale, but unless the value actually has gone up AND I sell my house I get no benefit from the higher valuation … The solution is obvious: a California proposition 13 revamp of our tax laws. Immediately roll back values to 1995 levels. Valuations are locked in at that level until YOU sell your house. Hawaiians will now be able to stay in family homes in Hanalei rather than having to move. Will Mayor Baptiste support and push for this reform? But, you say,”how will we pay for the shortfall? Easy. First, user fees. If you use the gov’t service, pay for it. If not, why should you pay? Second, immediately shut down all govt offices 1 day per week. Cut all pay 20%. Let gov’t workers share our pain! Will you support this concept Mayor Baptiste? I doubt it. Why? Because government exists to govern (control) and perpetuates itself through the power to tax. Ever wonder why the government can build a new police dep’t and judiciary complex, but can’t solve the traffic problem or fix up the parks? What we need for meaningful gov’t and tax reform is the power of referendum, citizen intiatives on the ballot, and the power to recall non-responsive politicians. Until we get that nothing will change! Our gov’t will just keep taking care of itself first and we will keep working 2 and 3 jobs to support it!! Please prove me wrong, Mayor Baptiste.
Michael Wells
Kapa‘a
