Maui County real property tax reform committee reviews past TIG work, sets October deadlines for proposals

The Maui County Council's Special Committee on Real Property Tax Reform reconvened Sept. 17 to review prior work by a 2019 Tax Investigation Group (TIG), confirm the committee's charge under the July resolution and set deadlines for members to submit legislation or discussion proposals ahead of an October meeting.

Committee vice chair Keanu Rollins Fernandez said the special committee's primary purpose is to develop recommendations for amendments to chapter 3.48 of the Maui County Code covering assessment, classification, exemption, valuation and collection of real property taxes, including tax tiers and rates. The committee reviewed the TIG's 2019 scope and accomplishments, which included simplifying chapter 3.48, reviewing tax classifications, considering tiered tax rates, and amendments to exemptions such as Kuleana and long-term rental exemptions.

Members discussed how members and the public should submit ideas going forward. The body agreed that individual ideas can be submitted as memos or as draft bills using the Council's PAF (proposal authorization form) process; the committee chair will direct-refer bills to this committee rather than routing them first through full council for referral. Staff advised that finalized drafts are preferred for any item the committee will be asked to recommend as legislation, while more preliminary ideas or topics can be placed on an agenda under a general discussion (rule 7(b)) item for committee deliberation.

The committee set internal deadlines for draft materials ahead of its next meeting: proposed legislation or materials should be submitted to staff by Oct. 1 to meet processing, translation and agenda posting requirements for the Oct. 14-15 meeting window. Members noted the committee will accept non-voting members' proposals; non-voting members may request a PAF and the chair will direct refer appropriate drafts to this committee.

Members also discussed time sensitivity for some departmental proposals and the practical need to sequence staff briefings and public testimony so the public can comment on posted items. The committee emphasized it will use the October meeting to take up member proposals and staff bills and asked staff to ensure bilingual agendas include hyperlinks where possible.

The reconvened session closed with the committee chair urging members to coordinate with staff and to prepare draft language or memos ahead of the Oct. 1 internal deadline so committee staff can include them on the Oct. 14-15 agenda.