LIHUE, Kauai -- Real property taxes on homes would go up 12.25 percent, the county fuel tax would increase 30 percent and the county vehicle weight tax on private autos would leap 67 percent under the 2000 budget submitted to the County Council yesterday by Mayor Maryanne Kusaka. Kauai taxes could
jump in 2000 budgetOverall spending by the county would increase 5.4 percent, to $70.6 million next year from $67 million this year.
Kusaka cited a $3.8 million deficit in the county's $5.8 million solid-waste program and a $1.1 million shortfall in the highway fund.
The major problem, however, is the state's reallocation of transient accommodations tax revenues to use a larger share for tourism promotion. Under the old formula, Kauai would have received $17 million next year. Instead it will receive $10.2 million.
The real estate property tax rate would increase 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. For a typical $200,000 home with a standard $40,000 exemption, the tax bill next year would be $733, compared with $653 this year, according to the county.
For the current year, the county raised property taxes by 31 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
The vehicle weight tax would increase by a half-cent per pound and the fuel tax by 3 cents per gallon. The combined increases would raise $1.5 million for the Highway Fund.
The County Council plans to begin budget hearings on individual departments April 5.
Dan Woods has been named city editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Star-Bulletin names
new city editorIn his new position, he will oversee the local news operation, including neighbor island coverage.
Woods, 47, previously served as graphics editor, in charge of the graphics and photography departments, and before that was a copy editor.
Prior to joining the Star-Bulletin, Woods was managing editor at the Joliet Herald-News in Joliet, Ill. He has a journalism degree from Northern Illinois University.
He succeeds Lucy Young-Oda, who is working on special projects at the paper.
HILO -- The Big Island Press Club has given its Torch of Light award to two west Hawaii people who successfully sued the Hawaii County Council to enforce the state Sunshine Law. Big Isle Press Club honors
two people for suing to enforce
the sunshine lawJerry Rothstein and Judy Graham were named recipients Sunday of the club's annual award to those who foster open government.
Kona Judge Ronald Ibarra ruled in December that procedures used to enact a revised county zoning code in 1996 violated the Sunshine Law because the public was given little description of the changes.
Since then, the County Council has held hearings on whether to repass the 1996 law or to make further changes. Another meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.
The press club also gave its annual Lava Tube Award, suggesting a place without sunshine, to the County Council for holding a closed-door discussion with former state Public Safety Director Keith Kaneshiro on where a new prison should be located.
Council Chairman Jimmy Arakaki took the award in stride. "At least we won something," he said.
Arakaki said the meeting did not violate any laws because it was a briefing, did not lead to a decision, and dealt with a matter over which the state, not the county, has control.
GMP Associates must pay $169,235 to settle
GMP Associates Inc., a Honolulu company providing architectural and engineering services, must pay $169,235 in a settlement for pension fraud to the U.S. Department of Labor.GMP withheld employee paycheck contributions and failed to forward them on to their 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, said David Ganz, the Los Angeles regional director for the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration. The company had 120 employees participating in the plan.
The company also didn't make required matching pension plan contributions, and neither did it forward employee loan repayments to the 401(k) plan.
GMP also agreed to stop running the plan. GMP must pay the settlement within 30 days.
1991 beating of youth to cost state $20,000
The state is settling a lawsuit brought by a former ward at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility who was beaten by a guard at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility after an escape.The settlement for $20,000 was added to a bill moving through the Legislature to settle various lawsuits against the state.
The case involves Jamal King, who suffered a broken nose and fractured skull in 1991 after youth correctional officer Dane Makaila punched him in the face.
Makaila later pleaded guilty in federal court to violating King's civil rights, was sentenced to 11 months in prison and fired from his job.
Singer Lynn sells Kona house for $2.67 million
KAILUA-KONA -- A seafront Kona house owned by country and western singer Loretta Lynn has been sold to a prominent local doctor for $2.675 million in cash, said John Michael White, president of the Hawaii Land Co.Attorney Randy Vitousek identified the buyer as his client, Earl Bakken, a retired physician active in supporting North Hawaii Community Hospital and other community activities. The price paid was slightly less than the $2.9 million asked, White said.
Lynn purchased the three-acre property facing the black sand beach at Kiholo Bay in 1982.
CORRECTIONS
Hawaii Public Radio will broadcast the Yo-Yo Ma concert 8-10 p.m. March 26. An item yesterday had the wrong date.
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPOLICE
Bomb shatters
store window
Argument at gun club leads to shooting, arrest
An argument at U.S. Gun Club in Waikiki led to shots being fired, but no injuries. The gunman was arrested, police said.A 30-year-old man, who owns the business, fired four rounds into the ceiling of his office after allegedly threatening a 34-year-old man who went to the club to pick up some of his property, police said.
According to a detective's report, the men were arguing about money.
The younger man ran outside of the Kuhio Avenue club, reported the 12:47 p.m. incident, and police arrested the man who had done the shooting, a detective said. He's under investigation for attempted second-degree murder but has not been charged, he said.
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