The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council on April 19, 2023.
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April 19, 2023
10 a.m.
Honolulu City Council Chambers
To: Honolulu City and County Council
Councilmember Tommy Waters, Chair
Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: Bill 31 (2022) — RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAXATION
Comments Only
Dear Chair and Committee Members:
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer its comments on Bill 31 (2022), which would expand eligibility for the real property tax credit.
We support increasing the eligibility of the tax credit, but the bill itself, if enacted, likely would be more difficult to administer than either Bills 37 or 38, since the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services would need to verify the number of individuals in each applicant’s household.
Bill 37 uses a fixed-dollar figure income limit to determine eligibility, and Bill 38 uses a two-person household area median income figure for all households.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Sincerely,
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
