Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Tax Exemptions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances technical amendments to Kakaʻako tax‑exemption process; administration and HCDA express support
Summary
The Budget Committee on Oct. 14 amended Bill 61 (CD1), which adjusts real property tax‑exemption procedures affecting the Kakaʻako district, and recommended the bill be reported out for passage on third reading after the administration and HCDA signaled support for technical adjustments.
The Budget Committee on Oct. 14 amended Bill 61 (CD1), which addresses real property tax exemptions in the Kakaʻako district, and recommended the measure be reported out for passage on third reading.
Committee Vice Chair Kymberly Nishimoto said the CD1 contains amendments the council and administration negotiated to address technical concerns. Andy Kawano, director of the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, said the administration has no issues with the CD1 changes. Ryan Tam, director of planning and development for the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA), said HCDA strongly supports the CD1 and thanked councilmembers and staff for working to resolve issues.
What it does: the ordinance maintains the 50% exemption structure established previously and aligns the ordinance with HCDA’s updated rules (including floor‑area‑ratio changes) so applications that were awarded the exemption receive appropriate recertification under the revised legal framework. Kawano said applications being reviewed are consistent with previous approvals and only a small number of applicants had technical recertification timing issues; those applicants appear to fall within the ordinance’s qualification thresholds.
No public testimony was recorded on the item. The committee amended the measure and recommended reporting it out for passage on third reading.
The measure is intended to preserve tax‑exemption continuity for qualifying properties in Kakaʻako while aligning city code with HCDA’s current regulatory framework.
