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Hawaii County Council advances change to affordable-rental tax classification amid debate over East–West impacts
Summary
The Hawaii County Council passed Bill 39 on first reading to change how the affordable-rental real property tax class is calculated, tying it to HUD AMI and explicitly allowing Section 8 landlords to qualify.
The Hawaii County Council passed Bill 39 on first reading on May 7, moving the county’s affordable-rental real property tax classification from a payment-standard basis to a formula tied to HUD area median income (AMI) and adding Section 8 landlords to the program.
Supporters said the change would simplify administration and encourage more landlords in West Hawai‘i to accept Section 8 vouchers. “Detaching [the affordable-rental class] from the payment standard will provide stability and make certification easier,” Housing Administrator Kejal Costa told the council, adding that HUD’s AMI charts are published earlier and would reduce annual disruption.
Opponents and several council members said the proposal…
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