(BIVN) – A proposal to put a land fund reduction to a public vote in 2020 failed at the Hawaiʻi County Charter Commission on Friday.

CA-7, introduced by charter commissioner Paul Hamano, proposed to repeal and replace provisions of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. The fund receives 2.25% of real property taxes to be used for the acquisition of privately held, but public valued, lands in danger of development.

Hamano wanted to allow the public, in a 2020 ballot question, a chance to amend the charter by instead appropriating a minimum of one percent (1%) of the real property tax revenues to the PONC fund. The land fund appropriation could also be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the council.

After hearing public testimony against the proposal, the commission debated CA-7. The measure ultimately failed by a commission vote of 4-5.