Lottery better idea
Why not give the voters a real choice in November? Instead of increasing property taxes to fund education, why not a state-run lottery?
George Lucas
Waikoloa
Education tax too unclear to support
This ballot measure appears to be one of those measures that is designed to slip under the radar. Who doesn’t want to support better schools? Or, as in the WHT opinion section recently, an instructor believes that the bill would provide funding to eliminate overheated classrooms. Unfortunately, SB2922 doesn’t expressly state or guarantee that the Hawaii County schools will receive any benefits at all.
I believe that our state legislators think charging any small or large investor an additional tax will be politically acceptable. Do they believe that these extra taxes will not be passed on to the consumer and hurt everyone? There has to be a better way than SB2922.
This is not the legislation that will help our children. Our county finance department is not in favor of how this bill is written. I urge all voters to vote no on this measure.
I suggest that our state legislators go back to their committees and consider adding a small percentage to the state property tax to facilitate the structural improvements. The way it is written, SB2922 is not the legislation that will help our keiki. Our county finance department is not in favor of how this bill is written and either should you. I urge all voters to vote no on this measure.
Michael Flaherty
Kailua-Kona
Homeowner insurance rules anyone’s guess
The skies in Kona have cleared but the unclear homeowners insurance mess is hanging over South Kona like a voggy day. Homeowners insurance is now next to impossible to buy if you want to purchase or build a new home south of the Honaunau Post Office.
Our agent has warned us: Make sure you are not late with your payment because the company you are with is looking for a reason to cancel you. We have been with them for 17 years without ever making a claim. Why isn’t it a problem to buy home insurance in Pahoa when lava was knock, knock, knocking on the door a few years ago and made it to the rubbish dump before stopping?
In 1983, lava was bearing down on Hilo from Mauna Loa and stopped four miles away. South Kona had flow in 1950 from Mauna Loa but we are considered zone 2 and Hilo zone 4. Someone please make it clear, the lava zones are as murky as the vacation rental rules.
James Duke
Captain Cook