Ron Kouchi, a one-time mayoral candidate and former chairman of the Kaua‘i County Council, has thrown his support behind Ohana Kauai’s property tax relief measure. Kouchi urged voters to approve the charter amendment in the Nov. 2 General Election. Kouchi
Ron Kouchi, a one-time mayoral candidate and former chairman of the Kaua‘i County Council, has thrown his support behind Ohana Kauai’s property tax relief measure.
Kouchi urged voters to approve the charter amendment in the Nov. 2 General Election.
Kouchi said while he supports the bulk of a council bill proposing dramatic tax reform, he is backing the Ohana Kauai measure because he feels it will do a better job of helping longtime property owners from being taxed off their properties.
Kouchi also refuted claims by county officials that adoption of the measure would result in significant revenue losses to the county, thereby leading to layoff of county employees and cutback in services.
In separate interviews with The Garden Island, Kouchi, and leaders of Ohana Kauai, Walter Lewis, a retired attorney and Princeville resident, John Hoff, a Republican challenger in the 15th House District race in Nov 2. General Election, and Glenn Mickens, a government watchdog who lives in Kapa‘a, asked for equal time in explaining their proposal and its benefits.
The Ohana Kauai proposal advocates reducing property taxes for residents who occupy their homes to the tax amount they paid in 1998.
The initiative also would limit tax increases to 2 percent a year in 2006, a year after the proposal would take effect.
Contrary to what county officials have said, adoption of the Ohana measure will not result in a loss of revenues, Kouchi said.
“There is absolutely no factual evidence to indicate that there would be a loss of revenues next year or in the foreseeable future with the Ohana measure passing,” Kouchi said.
Any revenue losses could be made up by spiraling property assessments that have been the norm in recent years, Kouchi said.
“The real estate market is strong, so it is easy to project revenue growth for the next fiscal year (2005-2006),” he said. “There will be more money next year than they had this year because of rising values.”
Lewis said two approved tax relief measures, coupled with adoption of the Ohana Kauai measure, would result in a first-year loss of $3 million.
Only $1.5 million in revenues would be lost if only the charter amendment were adopted and the two tax measures
