• Ohana Kauai Ohana Kauai For those of you who have been following the Ohana Kauai Charter Amendment (OKCA), please let me share some facts with you. First, the “hate” campaign staged against the amendment by government officials “services would
• Ohana Kauai
Ohana Kauai
For those of you who have been following the Ohana Kauai Charter Amendment (OKCA), please let me share some facts with you.
First, the “hate” campaign staged against the amendment by government officials “services would be cut, people would lose jobs, county bond rating would be hurt” was blatantly false. The amendment would reduce revenues by about $1.5 million per year, a small part of the $103 million budget.
This modest amount is considerably less than the cost of the 6ap that the Council enacted, but no council member nor any one in the administration yelled that the sky was falling when that ordinance was passed. Why the overreaction to the OKCA?
Second, false rumors were spread that the amendment was proposed by wealthy people who would be its principal beneficiaries. The Ohana group who sponsored the amendment is composed of about 40 people BUT all of the over 13,000 people who voted for the measure will benefit. We welcome anyone to join us in focusing on issues that will benefit our island and the people who live on it. It was because no one in government wanted to reform our out of control property tax system that motivated the Ohana group to take the proverbial bull by the horns and to get the measure on the ballot. It was overwhelmingly passed in spite of all the negative campaigning against it.
Another dedicated group of people spent 9 months on a Task Force working on tax reform. Their recommendations given over a year ago are in limbo. Some of them have joined with us and together we hope to get a long needed major change in the property tax system.
Third, the County is using your tax dollars to try to prove that the OKCA you approved is illegal or unconstitutional. They have allocated over $60,000 for legal services on their case. The Ohana group and its friends must strive to raise funds to restore to the citizens what they voted for. Something about this picture is very distorted.
We are appealing this case to the State Supreme Court with the expectation they will save for all of us the benefits of the OKCA. Mahalo to all who have supported our efforts.
Glenn Mickens
Member Ohana Kauai
Kapa‘a
