The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City Council on Aug. 7, 2024.
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Aug. 7, 2024, 9 a.m.
Honolulu Hale
To: Honolulu City Council
Tommy Waters, Chair
Esther Kiaʻāina, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: Bill 25 (2024) — RELATING TO LICENSE FEES
Aloha Chair Waters, Vice-Chair Kiaʻāina and other members of the Council,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer its support for Bill 25 (2024), which would repeal the city’s $50 hotel and boardinghouse annual license fee.
As the bill notes, the city’s authority to levy the fee was based on a state law that the Legislature repealed in 2001, so the city has not levied it since then.
Grassroot appreciates the intent of this measure and would welcome further Council actions to repeal outdated and redundant portions of the city code.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
