[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6603083,"mediaKeyId","3000937-ccad87368a409690447219fd4cb941b5","parentId",3000937,"title","Committee actions: communications closed and several budget/housing bills forwarded to council","audioSeconds",7598,"startMs",82000,"endMs",7680000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000937-ccad87368a409690447219fd4cb941b5&start=82&end=7680","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000937-ccad87368a409690447219fd4cb941b5/thumbnail_82000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603083/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Committee-actions-communications-closed-and-several-budgethousing-bills-forwarded-to-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603083-632cce9f2a0d934d628a0a29cdb91ad1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191560&Signature=XjLAGTcvyKjqBnpFMHcglx1bSeJ8QJ4BKzZDBmP~hgYdH3aIowz4dOPKoT8~213nhOefCl2dGM4UBNfUIoyjX1HvwaV6G0ipwmvdfcXxM5fLQh-B8bPmHWSs2HWebEd6Q2qv2Em-tT8e0JbWHtM8LC7~SLpAWvA~02itHPu7I8y-PQnrFWXb7bDpXu3~ZyR5e1-yMYmrvvRHtccFRYIJpOha93bfht3rQrOC9NOBK8z7xqz2S-5k3-93AhDNnQkl7Eb3hhZ7Yb18bU~yyDV3C1XGhwhRB7s5SCaI6rHjvVuWvJ5vRWp9hlYnQg-Bn-xgjQTlpWUPculhXKmyACNlbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hawaii County","date","2025-04-15T12:59:00Z","article","The Hawaii County Committee on Finance on April 15 took a series of procedural and substantive actions, including closing multiple communications and forwarding budget and housing bills to the full council with favorable recommendations.

Communications closed without substantive debate included routine finance reports and change‑order reports. The clerk recorded the routine votes as follows: Communication 23.1 (port of fund transfers authorized March 2025) — file closed (motion by Councilmember Nava; second by Councilmember Eustace; clerk recorded 8 in favor). Communication 24.7 and 24.8 (reports of change orders authorized February–March 2025 pursuant to Hawaii County Code section 2‑12.3) — files closed after disclosure and brief remarks; the clerk recorded eight ayes on both items. Communication 24.9 (report of change orders authorized March 2025) — file closed; clerk recorded nine ayes. Monthly budget status reports (Communications 73.3 and 73.4) for periods ended Sept. 30, 2024 and Oct./Nov. 2024 were closed by the committee (motions carried; clerk recorded nine ayes on these items).

Major items forwarded to council with a favorable recommendation included:

- Resolution 122‑25: Authorize payment spanning fiscal years and authorize the mayor to enter a multi‑year agreement (three‑year agreement with two renewal options) for island‑wide fixed‑route transit operations (Mass Transit Agency). Motion to forward carried (motion by Councilmember Reyna Nava; second by Councilmember Eustace); clerk recorded nine ayes.

- Bill 41: An amendment to the FY2024–25 operating budget to move home program income repayment funds into the appropriate housing fund account (housekeeping appropriation transfer). Motion to forward carried with no additional appropriation; clerk recorded eight ayes (one member excused).

- Bill 42: An amendment increasing certain federal account interest and appropriating interest to COVID‑era emergency rental assistance and related housing program accounts (includes emergency rent assistance, landlord‑tenant mediation, and homeowner assistance administration). The committee forwarded Bill 42 to council with a favorable recommendation; clerk recorded nine ayes.

Procedural notes: Several of these items were described by finance staff as housekeeping actions or routine reports; items involving federal COVID funding and housing program income were described by Office of Housing and Community Development staff as reallocation tasks that do not create new funding but place funds in the proper accounts for program use.

Votes at a glance (selected items):
- Communication 23.1 — Close file; 8 ayes.
- Communication 24.7 — Close file; 8 ayes.
- Communication 24.8 — Close file; 8 ayes.
- Communication 24.9 — Close file; 9 ayes.
- Communication 73.3 — Close file; 9 ayes.
- Communication 73.4 — Close file; 9 ayes.
- Resolution 122‑25 — Forward to council with favorable recommendation; 9 ayes.
- Bill 41 — Forward to council with favorable recommendation (housekeeping transfer); 8 ayes.
- Bill 42 — Forward to council with favorable recommendation (use of federal interest for housing programs); 9 ayes.

All forwarded bills will appear on the committee’s and council’s calendars for final council action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hawaii County - Finance Committee - Apr 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the April 15 Hawaii County Committee on Finance meeting the committee closed several communications and forwarded multiple bills and a resolution to the full council with favorable recommendations; votes were recorded for each action.","taxTitle","Hawaii County, Hawaii","taxId",12825,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603089,"Committee backs amendment to affordable‑rental tax class, adds Section 8 certification and raises qualifying threshold",3660,3840000,7500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000937-ccad87368a409690447219fd4cb941b5&start=3840&end=7500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000937-ccad87368a409690447219fd4cb941b5/thumbnail_3840000.jpg","/articles/6603089/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Committee-backs-amendment-to-affordablerental-tax-class-adds-Section-8-certification-and-raises-qualifying-threshold","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603089-dfdfff6b7503628d887ce8b358cb2767/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191560&Signature=aGWEMHgFFFo-axY0KFfavwbNBH1KXfY5S5~9cGUxz~G5--DRBNnX8pdDPIvOfBCDYGP6H9vYSBgt~GjqCiofA3TgDaBfkhVPQJbs9SDDbDrP75atgwLzM2GYJ15QLQsxNzb9ywoA9lwnU5OifBBQkNsQ7eeO~EgXalNMDXuPO05ASBmluoCYc4q-k7I~p4ts0iyxU~NosWuGdus25-MFbGtxQetLBZs6ko0fRM78qgNgk71TVyIKPDt1WnYUSuwPZue4Vcz3q8ofHmJwpmAfg5bCFezBFClb2dq9jY~5NpbwYIEWb8SYojR~J4DrvxRayQ9QYsjpvYUbn2502zMMYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hawaii County Committee on Finance on April 15 voted to forward Bill 39 to the full council with a favorable recommendation after adopting an amendment that would tie the affordable‑rental real‑property tax classification to area‑median‑income thresholds and explicitly include units certified under the Section 8 program.

Councilmember Holeyka Inaba, who moved the main motion and offered the amendment, said the change would decouple the county’s affordable‑rental tax class from the Housing Office’s internal payment standard and instead align it with a percentage of the area median income (AMI). “The intent is to broaden the scope of who we are trying to serve,” Councilmember Inaba said.

Under the version forwarded by the committee, the affordable‑rental class would be based on 80% of AMI (the bill text sets 80% as the chosen threshold) and also allow landlords whose properties are certified by the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) as Section 8 rental units to qualify. Kejal Acosta, housing administrator, explained the rationale: Section 8 certification verifies tenant income eligibility and housing quality through the federal voucher program, which relieves some verification burden from Real Property Tax staff.

Real Property Tax Administrator Lisa Miura told the committee the change would reduce the Real Property office’s workload because OHCD already certifies income eligibility for Section 8 participants. “Including … certified by the Office of Housing and Community Development as Section 8 rental units” helps shift verification responsibilities to housing staff, she said.

Committee members debated the effect of switching from the Office of Housing’s payment standard to AMI, which in some areas would increase the dollar amounts landlords could charge while still qualifying for the tax class. Several members expressed concern about geographic differences across the island — particularly how an island‑wide AMI threshold could affect east‑side renters versus west‑side renters — and asked OHCD for more localized market comparisons. Councilmember Heather Kimball and others suggested consideration of ZIP‑level or small‑area differentials or phased increases to avoid sudden rent spikes.

The committee also removed a requirement in current rules that affordable rental units be “legally permitted by all codes,” a change the sponsor said was intended to expand the pool of eligible properties and increase landlord participation. OHCD staff clarified that Section 8 participation requires health and habitability inspections and rent reasonableness checks as part of the federal program.

After adopting the amendment (motion by Councilmember Holeyka Inaba; second by Councilmember Michelle Galimba), the committee approved the bill as amended and forwarded it to the full council with a favorable recommendation. The clerk recorded eight ayes and one no (Councilmember Jennifer Kogewata).

Officials asked for follow‑up material before council consideration: OHCD will provide a geographic distribution of affected properties and market‑rate comparisons by ZIP code so the council can judge how an 80% AMI threshold would align with local rents and affordability goals.

Action summary: the committee adopted the amendment to Bill 39 to add Section 8 certification and to set the affordable‑rental qualification at 80% AMI, then forwarded the amended bill to full council with a favorable recommendation (motion by Councilmember Holeyka Inaba; second by Councilmember Michelle Galimba). The clerk recorded 8 yes, 1 no.","The committee voted to forward Bill 39, which moves the county’s affordable‑rental real‑property classification toward an AMI‑based standard and adds certification for Section 8 rental units, after an amendment to broaden eligibility was adopted.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603094,"Committee postpones vote on bill to create private‑road property‑tax credit after fiscal and staffing concerns",7024,536000,7560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000937-ccad87368a409690447219fd4cb941b5&start=536&end=7560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000937-ccad87368a409690447219fd4cb941b5/thumbnail_536000.jpg","/articles/6603094/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Committee-postpones-vote-on-bill-to-create-privateroad-propertytax-credit-after-fiscal-and-staffing-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603094-da3a40ba5403b593c4f3aa66fbdc6fb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191560&Signature=dAs6~dLL5wx6Xfs4-EZ7Q4o8QoF~YMfXF6DSAI-80XogmOLWMsRAGsORqZPHf0mu~tdVJKehrwh3SgL0sav~eIVo438Umdi5-vXyBIC4RcVgFE~WC3blPfLiPJzKfvIYaJ-NQRYLMgukiGaD8A1MgAfAWbpQ-Nvpk~zXbzvJbtSodGnnifiothIBej7WW5nqUnlsnRnUcnCrkUDr3d6HOX8jE2YMMHnZe3f0OH7gel3ua2LsnQOoHw~JO-VBLe7wuqd5~p-XUA81dJSkBqYrWdukLHgANbEwhPZL2EZu3pD4f6uYtkihkoBv1eVfzdmpbXS7oNXTYn52Lu~CbwUhUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hawaii County Committee on Finance on April 15 postponed consideration of Bill 38, a proposal to create a private‑road real‑property tax credit, after county finance and tax administrators raised concerns about revenue impacts and staff capacity.

Sponsor Councilmember Connolly Kleinfelder presented the bill as an equity measure aimed at homeowners in subdivisions with private roads who already pay maintenance dues. “This is an equity issue,” Councilmember Connolly Kleinfelder said, arguing the measure would give some relief to residents who pay privately for road upkeep.

Real Property Tax Administrator Lisa Miura told the committee that her office calculated roughly 9,271 parcels that match the bill’s criteria (homeowner exemptions on nongated private roads). Miura said the “maximum loss based on 2024 values was $2,100,000,” and, using a plausibility estimate that 40% of eligible property owners would claim the credit, the county could see an annual reduction of about $842,000 (roughly 3,700 parcels claiming the credit).

Diana Nakagawa, director of finance, said the finance department had “serious concerns over our resources and our ability to get a good handle on the changes that were already made.” Nakagawa and Miura both told the committee that the Real Property Tax office lacks the staff and infrastructure to administer a new annual credit without additional positions and system work.

Miura described current capacity in the Real Property Division: nine clerical positions (two vacancies) that process approximately 5,000 applications per year. She estimated the new program could generate roughly 3,700 additional annual applications if uptake matched the 40% scenario and said “that would be for clerks alone to process” because each claim requires verification that the homeowner actually paid private road maintenance dues.

Committee members discussed options to narrow the credit (for example, capping it below $500 or otherwise limiting eligibility) and raised alternatives, including exploring state‑level income tax credits or using fuel tax revenue and other mechanisms tied to road maintenance funding. Several members expressed sympathy for the bill’s intent but concern about timing, given recent changes the Real Property office is implementing and the division’s staffing stress. “I just wanna be on record: we’re drowning,” Miura said of her office’s workload.

After discussion, sponsor Connolly Kleinfelder moved to postpone Bill 38 to allow further work with administration and follow‑up on staffing and budget impacts. The committee approved the postponement; the clerk recorded nine ayes and no nays. Connolly Kleinfelder said he will return with more refined language and numbers for a future committee meeting.

Clarifying details from the meeting included the proposal’s basic design: a property‑tax credit intended to equal the homeowner’s annual private roadway maintenance payments up to a $500 limit (the agenda language will be corrected to show $500 as a maximum, not a minimum). The credit would exclude gated developments and require a qualifying road maintenance organization (for example, a homeowners association) as the paying entity. The Real Property office recommended clearer bill language to make application and verification feasible.

The committee set a new hearing date: Bill 38 was postponed to the June 3 committee meeting. The decision to postpone means the measure will next be considered after the administration and Real Property Tax division provide additional staffing and fiscal analyses.

Votes and formal action: the committee voted to postpone Bill 38 to June 3 (motion by Councilmember Connolly Kleinfelder; second by Councilmember Dennis Onishi) with the clerk recording nine ayes.","The Hawaii County Committee on Finance postponed consideration of Bill 38, which would create a real‑property tax credit of up to $500 for homeowners who pay for maintenance of nongated private roads, after staff warned of revenue loss and increased workload for the Real Property Tax office.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee actions: communications closed and several budget/housing bills forwarded to council

Committee backs amendment to affordable‑rental tax class, adds Section 8 certification and raises qualifying threshold

Committee postpones vote on bill to create private‑road property‑tax credit after fiscal and staffing concerns