Reading the “Pays to be fit” article in the April 1 front page West Hawaii Today sounds like a poor April Fools’ Joke. It is either that or the councilman who is quoted is himself a fool. Wake up councilman,
Reading the “Pays to be fit” article in the April 1 front page West Hawaii Today sounds like a poor April Fools’ Joke. It is either that or the councilman who is quoted is himself a fool. Wake up councilman, it is good that you want to give back: “This is our way of giving back.”
If you really feel that way, then why not give some of your county council pay to the physically fit athletes who have the time to spend “training their behinds off.”
On this same WHT front page are the pictures of three state representatives in an article discussing the subject of how to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers for our public schools. The answer is simple, drop all property taxes for qualified teachers. This will recruit and retain them, guarantee!
Then the next step would be to drop all property taxes for police officers because they risk their lives daily and are basically law enforcement officers 24 hours a day. Then there are those who serve on county boards as volunteers, how about giving them a break on property taxes also. Oh, and don’t forget the groups of people who do volunteer work in the communities. They save the county a bunch of money and should be compensated by not having to pay property taxes.
How about the snow birds who have second homes in Hawaii? They provide jobs for locals with the maintenance and security of their homes and property while absent. They pay property taxes as though they utilize the facilities their taxes support on a full-time basis. How about adjusting their taxes based on the time they live in Hawaii and utilize the facilities their taxes support.
Another group is the senior citizens of our county. Some of them have been paying property taxes for over 50 years. I think they should be given a break as they surely must have done their part in contributing to the economy all these years. In fact, many of them spent their lives working more than one job, rain or shine, “at work, running errands, or doing chores, or yard work.” The same things that these physically fit athletes need not have to do and thereby earning a reward in the form of “tax exemption” from a county council member who feels the urge to “give back.”
Are we not all in this existence together? Most of us have chosen to pursue a lifestyle that fits our desire based on what we are willing to invest. Most of us share in the cost (property taxes) of maintaining the conveniences that are available to all. While some of us never utilize some of these conveniences, we share in the costs. By the same token, there are those who utilize these conveniences but never share in the costs.
To reward one group by shifting their share of the costs to another group is unfair, inconsiderate, (including numerous other adjectives) and stupid. However, if the councilman feels the urge to give back, I say, very good! Make this a personal thing like those of us who support social or religious causes with our own personal finances. In the process, don’t be so generous with our finances by rewarding others for the choices they willfully make.
Leningrad Elarionoff is a resident of Waimea
