LIHUE — The public showed support for a proposed amendment at a Wednesday hearing that would earmark 3 percent of real property tax revenue toward affordable housing.
Of the 20 registered speakers, only two opposed the proposed measure.
If moved forward by the County Council, the resolution proposed by Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura will go on the ballot in November’s election. If passed by voters in the general election, the measure is expected to generate $4 million per year for affordable housing.
Marj Dente, who has owned and been paying taxes on property on Kauai since 1989, said she fully supports this bill.
“It is more important than probably anything else that’s an issue right now in our county and I am happy that my real estate taxes is determined to help with that effort,” she said.
Dente suggested a change in ordinances that would allow guest houses to be equipped with kitchens, so low-income people could live there and prepare their own meals at home.
“This will increase the amount of affordable housing to the people mostly needing it,” she said.
According to the General Plan, Kauai will need 9,000 new housing units over the next 20 years, with about 8,000 of those needing to be in the category of affordable homes, meaning no more than 30 percent of household income for families with incomes below 140 of the median income.
Dennis Esaki said the red tape complicating regular housing is causing the housing shortage.
“Unless it is an affordable housing project or another county project — which are fast-tracked — a regular housing subdivision must wait in line and cost a lot of time and money with many conditions,” he said.
The housing ordinance that’s meant for low-income housing is actually having a negative impact, Esaki said. In the past, he said, the state had fast-tracked processes that helped build thousands of homes, which helped subsidize lower income housing.
“The reason I came today is to support this 3 percent earmark to be given to affordable housing,” said Eileen Kechloian.
Since this is an election year, she has gone to county candidates’ websites to research what they stand for.
“Everybody here stands for affordable housing and I think all this is doing is giving your constituents an opportunity to vote on whether or not they want 3 percent of their property taxes to go to affordable housing,” she said.
As one of their constituents, Kechloian believes she should have this right. “I ask that you vote in favor of this resolution, so that I can send 3 percent of my property taxes to people who really need it,” she said.
The issue will return to the County Council at a later date.
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Bethany Freudenthal, courts, crime and county reporter, can be reached at 652-7891 or bfreudenthal@thegardenisland.com.
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I understand why this article was written by the “crime” reporter.