City fees increase;
some up by 100%

For instance, the cost of
registering a car or truck is
going from $10 to $20

State fees, too

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

The cost of registering a car or truck will go up from $10 to $20 for Oahu residents beginning tomorrow, the first day of the new fiscal year.

The change is the most far-reaching of about 50 fee increases going into effect as a result of the budget introduced by Mayor Jeremy Harris and approved by the City Council.

The cost of getting a building permit will also go up. How much will depend on the cost of the work. For instance, a permit for work valued at $500 or less will go from $8 to $15. A permit for work valued at more than $100,000 and up to $500,000 will go from $395 plus $5.60 for every $1,000 of value to $510 plus $7 for every $1,000.

Other fee increases:

Solid waste disposal charges for businesses and government agencies will go up for the second of three scheduled years. At H-POWER, the charges will go from $72.75 a ton to $78 tomorrow. Next year it will go to $84.25.
At transfer stations, the charges will go from $98.75 a ton to $107.75 tomorrow. Next year it will go to $117.25 a ton. Additionally, the city's recycling surcharge fee will go from 6 percent to 12 percent.
Searches of real property tax records will go from $2.50 to $4.75.
Copies of maps, plans and diagrams will go from $1 to $3.
Permits for zone changes will increase, with the amounts depending on the number of districts changing and the value of property.
The fees for sign permits will go up. For instance, a sign valued at $500 or less will go from $3 to $15. A permit for a sign valued at more than $1,000 will go from $30 plus 30 cents for every $100 of value to $50.
Site development plan approvals will go from zero to $100.
Planned development plan permits for commercial and resort properties will go from zero to $500.
Assembly permits will go from $40 to $100.

State fees also climb tomorrow Star-Bulletin staff Higher court-related fees, and laws intended to save the state money as well as make money go into effect tomorrow, the start of the state's new fiscal year. Gov. Ben Cayetano signed 42 bills that become effective tomorrow, including measures to protect Hawaii's youth and consumers. Two other bills will take effect without the governor's signature. If you need to go to court because of a traffic citation, or probate, district or civil court action filed after today, you will likely have to pay higher costs. The new law imposes a $100 fee for probate actions, increases the fee for civil district court filings from $75 to $100 and adds new fees ranging from $5 to $20 for administrative costs for processing traffic citations. It also gives judges the discretion to recover the actual cost of issuing a bench warrant by assessing a $50 fine. Other measures effective tomorrow: Require the attorney general to develop a procedure to advise agencies on how to avoid paying claims on lawsuits. The attorney general will also be required to consult with the governor before settling any claim against the state that exceeds $75,000. Allow the Board of Land and Natural Resources to lease coastal land and to engage in building or mining operations to generate funds for beach restoration. Require the Department of Human Services to make criminal history checks of foster boarding homes for the first two years of certification. The inquiries would become annual or biennial in the third year, depending on the certification status of the home. Permit private schools to conduct criminal history checks of their employees, just as public schools have been allowed to do in recent years. Toughen child passenger restraint law by requiring any child younger than 4 years to be buckled into a car child-passenger restraint system. Tighten regulations on check-cashing businesses. A measure going into effect tomorrow that Cayetano hasn't signed allocates the $1.2 billion settlement the state will get from the tobacco industry: 40 percent will go to a rainy-day fund for emergencies. 35 percent goes to the Health Department for programs such as children's health. 25 percent goes to a tobacco prevention and control fund.