Vehicle taxes are backwards
Once again our state government is poised to levy another regressive tax burden on those least able to afford it. A West Hawaii Today front page article on Feb. 15 referenced Senate Bill 1012. This bill increases the state’s fuel tax, increases the vehicle registration fees and increases the per pound vehicle weight tax. So, those who must drive longer distances to get to work will be most affected. In West Hawaii, many people cannot afford to live in or near the area they work based on economic reasons, primarily housing costs.
It is interesting to note that the owners of older, heavier vehicles will pay a much greater tax than the owners of newer lighter weight vehicles. In most areas it is normal to base the annual vehicle registration fee on the value of the vehicle. This is a complete non factor in Hawaii. Many of the newer more expensive vehicles we see on the road here were purchased on the mainland. The owners of these vehicles have paid thousands of dollars in fees and taxes to some other state. Now the vehicle is on the road here and the owners enjoy a vehicle registration fee of less than $200 a year.
Our legislators continually put a disproportionate tax burden on our residents at the lower economic end. My suspicion is that many of the people sitting in the State Legislature are driving newer, lighter vehicles, thereby creating a comfortable advantage for themselves.
John Totten
Kailua-Kona
Taxed to death already
Gov. Neil Abercrombie again raised our motor vehicle registration, then our county raised the county fee and now we are going to get raised again and on vehicle weight tax. So the 1980, 1990 cars and the cars up to 2005 are all going to get taxed heavily again instead of fees going down as the vehicle ages.
Tell us, how will our 20-year-olds want to stay in Hawaii and make a living when they are paying Hawaii’s out of control rents, grocery prices and gas prices? And then while they are trying to make their car payment, they won’t have money for the fees at the motor vehicle department and for sure not money for car insurance and lastly no insurance for health, because that’s out the window.
Stop raising our fees and, please, the government should take a decrease in pay like all of us living in Hawaii.
If the state taxes weight, why does the county too? Someone should investigate our system in Hawaii.
Coreen Nelson
Kona
Golf or not to golf?
I was saddened to read the letter of Mr. Roger Hansen in the WHT. Does the Waikoloa Village golf course increase the value of the properties by $45,000? Mr. Hansen, there is proven history, take a look at the Discovery Harbour subdivision where golf course lots were valued around $150,000 until the gold course was closed and those same lots are selling for $30,000 now.
I was also saddened by the repeated mocking of the mentioned sources as real estate “professionals.” Some people in that industry spend years and years studying to earn coveted designations like GRI, CCMI or CRB, all are considered as the “PhD” in the real estate industry. Give respect where it’s due.
Disclaimer: I don’t have any association with the WVA, I don’t own a property in Waikoloa Village, and I don’t golf. However, I am a retired certified real estate brokerage manager that took four years of studying to earn.
John S. Rabi
Kailua-Kona