• Year of the young Kauaians • Raising taxes, fees not the answer • Free indicators report available online Year of the young Kauaians There was a moment in time, yet again, that I believed I might run again for council. But nepotism
• Year of the young Kauaians • Raising taxes, fees not the answer • Free indicators report available online
Year of the young Kauaians
There was a moment in time, yet again, that I believed I might run again for council. But nepotism this year prevents me from doing such, as I am too closely related to some of the incumbents who are continuing to pull papers to run yet again. The best thing I can do is simply wait until term limits come into play in 2016.
As I continue to focus on my health and recovery from some long-term illnesses, it is just simply not my time. Even after waiting decades to try again. When I first ran, I was a young mom with little kids. I thought I could better myself and do a good job. But, I was told to go home, and raise my family. I was told to wait. I was told it was not my time.
Sometimes, when you get older, you get wiser. But sometimes extraordinary events happen and you know it’s not your time, and you should again wait your turn. This is one of those years. I see the rise of the young bloods, and I am proud of them. This is the year of the young Kauaians. I wish them luck, and will be supporting them all, from Dustin Barca to Dylan Hooser.
The impetus is extraordinary, as yet another child of mine enters the voters circle. I have great hope for Kauai.
This year, I will remain a spectator. And wait for the time when a woman appears at the top of the list to take my place.
Anne Punohu
Kapaa
Raising taxes, fees not the answer
The May 11 edition of The Garden Island shouted the headline, “Downgrade,” referring to Fitch Ratings downgrading the County of Kauai’s long-term credit.
If you review the report, you find phrases like, “expenditure growth has repeatedly outpaced revenue gains,” and “a substantial reduction in reserves over the past few years.”
What does it mean?
Mayor Carvalho and the Kauai County Council have repeatedly spent more money than they have taken in. So what is their answer? Raise taxes on the non-voters, the people that supply most of the jobs on the island, the resorts and condominium owners. And why not? They cannot vote, and they have a bottomless pocket book. That is good election year politics. Or is it? The resorts, hotels and condominium owners cannot raise rates. The economy is still struggling, especially in California where most of the visitors to Kauai come from. So the visitor industry has no choice but to cut expenses and the first place you go is your payroll. So jobs on the island will be lost, unemployment will go up. The County Council barely gave any consideration to cutting their own expenses, other than travel expenses, and that cut was minor.
The entire property tax situation is rigged on Kauai. Values are intentionally inflated on hotels, resorts and condominiums because appealing valuations to the Tax Appeal Board is pointless. They back the county over 95 percent of the time. It is expensive to appeal to the tax court in Hawaii, so most hotels and condominium owners just give up.
Kauai’s property tax rates on resorts and condominiums are some of the highest in the United States and they are some of the highest in the state of Hawaii.
Raising taxes on non voters may not matter to most of the people on Kauai, but many residents will stand up and shout, “Cut expenses, Mr. Mayor!” But I doubt the mayor will listen, and the headline will be in a smaller font.
Bill Flohrs
Overland Park, Kan.
Free indicators report available online
A big mahalo for your kind words regarding Kauai Planning and Action Alliance’s community indicators report “Measuring What Matters for Kauai” (May 15). The report is a great resource for anyone developing public policy, preparing business plans or writing grants – or simply wanting to know more about our island’s quality of life.
Your readers should know that they can read or download the free 116-page report or the executive summary by visiting the publications section of KPAA’s website at www.kauainetwork.org. The report is also available in the reference section at all public libraries on Kauai.
I hope people will pay special attention to the opportunities for action and consider how they can help change the tide on some of the less positive trends.
Diane Zachary
President and CEO
Kauai Planning and Action Alliance
Lihue
