• Santa visits bus stop • Voting machines and elections • Thanks, paratransit drivers • A thank you to donors • Property taxes and Bill 2048 Santa visits bus stop One sunny morning in December, I was waiting for the
• Santa visits bus stop •
Voting machines and elections • Thanks,
paratransit drivers • A thank you to donors
• Property taxes and Bill 2048
Santa visits bus stop
One sunny morning in December, I was waiting for the 9:30 a.m. bus in Lihu‘e. I had with me my purse, jacket, umbrella and bottled water, and it was quite a heavy load for an 86-year-old grandma.
There was no place I could sit. Luckily, the bus arrived.
I wasn’t aware that Rodney Martin (Aunty Janet’s nephew) was concerned. He went to his workshop and made two beautiful benches. In three days, he had the benches installed. His financee Leslie did the art work. It was a beautiful job, and what a neighbor.
When you have a chance, take a ride down to the bus stop at Elepaio and Akekeke roads and check out the benches.
Maholo plenty, Rod and Les. May you have a happy New Year ahead.
Maria “TuTu” Lewis, Lihu‘e
Voting machines and elections
In response to John Zwiebel’s letter to The Garden Island dated Dec. 28 entitled “Counting Votes,” let me reiterate that there has never been any evidence of “flipping” occurring during elections held in Hawai‘i; nor have any allegations of “flipping” been made.
Be as it may, I have requested that Mr. Zwiebel’s letter be included as part of the agenda of the January Elections Commission Meeting to be held on Jan. 11 in Honolulu. Please check with the elections office for the exact location.
Present at the meeting will be those who participated in the evaluation and selection of the Hart system and who are responsible for the conduct of the elections and the use of the Hart terminals.
I strongly urge Mr. Zwiebel to attend and make his concerns known.
Finally, it is not a question of whether I want an electronic machine. It is a question of what is best for the State of Hawaii to use for conducting elections and including the broadest possible participation of voters.
William B. Marston, Chair, Hawaii State Elections Commission
Thanks, paratransit drivers
To Kaua‘i Bus paratransit (door-to-door service) angel drivers, mahalo for your ‘ohana aloha.
You care by gentleness, listening, constant helpfulness, anticipating our needs and going the extra mile in your service
You are aloha ke akua personified.
Ray Holmes, Kapa‘a
A thank you to donors
We would like to publicly acknowledge our appreciation to all the many donors who contributed to making last month’s (Nov. 11) St. Michael and All Angels’ King Kamehameha Queen Emma Benefit Silent/On-Line Auction a success.
These economic times are not conducive to give-a-ways, but so many of our local businesses joined in and showed their “community spirit”.
We are forever grateful to you. Mahalo!
Colette Buis, Lihu’e
Property taxes and Bill 2048
The several property tax changes proposed by the Kaua‘i County Council will undoubtedly affect the county’s main revenue source, real property taxes.
These taxes are a calculation of the net property assessment times the applicable tax rate. The assessment of a home (i.e., an appraisal) is based on the home’s value and has typically been reduced by one or more claimed exemptions.
The tax rates are set by the Kaua‘i County Council based on revenue needs of the county. The assessments are the official valuation of property by the county. Assessments are uniformly made and thus tend to be measures of equality.
Bills pertaining to exemptions tend to detract from the uniformity of the assessments because they erode from the tax base. Conversely, bills dealing with assessments tend to promote uniformity. The “tax reform” bills seem to have the unintended consequence of transferring the burden of taxation to someone else.
In developing assessments (which are mass appraisals), assessors and review boards must be aware of, understand and correctly employ accepted methods and techniques necessary to produce and communicate credible valuations to a universe of properties. There appear to be no revisions of assessment procedures in the present packet of assessment bills introduced by the Kaua‘i County Council. Homeowners, me included, will benefit from Bill 2048. The bill will impact on property not classified residential and residential property not receiving homeowners’ exemptions.
The Appraisal Foundation is authorized by Congress as the “source of professional appraisal practice.” They have developed uniform standards of professional appraisal practice. These standards should be acknowledged as the council wrestles over real property tax changes.
Reginald Gage
Kalaheo
