Big Island Video News

Serving Hawaii County

  • Hawaiʻi Island News Regions
    • Hamakua
      • Mauna Kea
    • Hilo
    • Kau
    • Kona
    • Kohala
    • Puna



Video by David Corrigan

VIDEO: Mayor Kim Wants To Reduce Two Percent Land Fund
Avatar photo

by Big Island Video News
on Feb 9, 2017 at 6:55 am

Subscribe to Big Island Video News (FREE)

* indicates required

STORY SUMMARY

HILO (BIVN) - Harry Kim would like to cut the amount set aside for public land purchases by half.

HILO, Hawaii – On Tuesday, the Hawaii County Council received the 2016 annual report of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Commission, or PONC, detailing the priorities for future land purchases to benefit county residents.

Mayor Harry Kim transmitted the detailed summary of the “purchasing history and status of the lands purchased with the fund, an accounting report, a statement on management and stewardship of the lands” to the council, which voted to accept the updated report in Finance Committee.

Voters supported the creation of the land fund by county ordinance in 2006. Every year, two percent of the county’s real property tax collections are deposited into the open space fund.

Mayor Kim says that amount is too high.

“When this proposal came out, I was opposed,” said Kim in a recent interview.

Kim wanted the public to consider half that amount, a 1% set-aside, and says he is “gonna push for that again.” His approach is likely to be reflected in the upcoming budget proposal, he said.

It would not be the first time the county reconsidered the 2% land fund. In 2009, at the request of previous Mayor Billy Kenoi, the council voted to suspend deposits into the fund for two years. Land fund supporters fought back, arguing that the down economy was a great time to buy.

This year’s report places a conservation easement proposed for the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens in South Kona at the top of the priority list.

LINK: 2016 PONC Annual Report to the Mayor


Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Harry Kim, PONC

LATEST NEWS

Officer Honored For Catching Two Wanted Felons

Kilauea Volcano Alert Level Changed To ADVISORY

VIDEO: Unique Building Planned For Hawaiian Home Lands

Community Meeting On Waikoloa Road Project Set For March 30

Red Hill Cabin On Mauna Loa Volcano Reopens

Man Rescued From Cliff Near Waipiʻo Valley

About Big Island Video News

  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Dynamik-Gen on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in