PROPERTY TAX BLUES

Help! 2005 tax bill rockets out of sight

Property taxes in Oahu have run amok. My property tax for 2005 has gone up by 185.76 percent from my 2002 property tax bill. And the estimated tax bill for 2006 is 19.10 percent higher than 2005!

Tax the speculators, not owner-occupants

I don't know of any reasonable person or any real property tax expert who believes that a Proposition 13-type of law is good for Honolulu -- except, of course, for the terribly misguided City Councilman Charles Djou.

What's needed instead is the sound proposal of Mayor Mufi Hannemann (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 1). He wants to grant property tax relief this year to the tune of $40 million.

More important, he wants to establish a homeowner classification for property, as is done in every other county in the state, with lower rates for long-time residents who don't plan to sell their homes, and higher rates for real estate speculators. This makes sense.

Hannemann scores with tax relief plan

Touchdown, Mayor Hannemann! He took the ball to the house by offering a $40 million dollar tax cut this year, and establishing a homeowner's classification with a lower rate for next year and beyond.

Unfortunately, Councilman Charles Djou fumbled the ball on property tax measures last year after putting the city budget to bed.

Taxpayers are getting scalped by city

The increase in property tax is a small element of the city government's plan to scalp all it can from taxpayers. It's a license to steal, along with the sewer fees that also are raised whenever the city needs money. What happened to the mayor's campaign promise to make more efficient use of the city's resources? We don't need more services. We need to limit services!

The mayor must have known that the property taxes were going to jump before the notices went out, but by saying nothing until everyone complained he admits that he wanted all that extra money to fund projects that would make him look good and allow the taxpayers to suffer the burden!

It's time to refine how property tax is figured

Property owners will not be fooled by a one-time rebate on property taxes, no matter how generous. If tax assessments are not refined, the bite will come around next year and the year after that. It makes more sense to base the tax assessment on how long the property has been owned, thereby making it possible for older property owners to afford and remain in their homes.

Proposed reduction still a windfall for city

Let's see, a proposed $40 million reduction of a $125 million property tax increase is being called a tax cut.

Sure smells like a $85 million tax INCREASE to me.

Elderly can't endure rising tax payments

My 93-year-old mother has lived all her life on Oahu and has been in her house for more than 70 years. I understand raising property taxes, but the tax in Kapahulu is ridiculous.

My mother's tax bill went from $265.13 in 2003, then $655.88 in 2004 and $1,158.38 in 2005. I just spoke to my mother and her taxes for 2006 will be more than $1,600. Not only was her property re-assessed, but it was also rezoned. She is on a set income like many others, and I feel she should be able to live out her life in the house she worked hard for. It's difficult to understand how people can raise taxes and not consider the elderly who have worked all their lives to obtain a modest residence and only in their latter years have to worry about money to pay these outrageous taxes! I hope all homeowners in Hawaii will make an effort to correct this wrong.

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Bowl game was great family entertainment

I am a father of five young children, and I must say attending the Hawaii Bowl game was just great. It's sad that no one is writing about all the exciting things the organizers had for the kids. I know if more families knew about the free entertainment, rides, gifts, face painting and so much more, the stadium would have been packed.

My children did not come to their seats until halfway through the first quarter. I had about 17 of my family members there, and it was a wonderful experience. The game was awesome too; even my wife enjoyed it. We are looking forward to next year's game because the experience was priceless.

Hui Malama leader a prisoner of war

If the truth is a doubled-edged sword, then it cuts both ways. By its nature then, it is divisive. So be it. The truth concerning Edward Halealoha Ayau is that he is a prisoner of war (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 28). A war of occupation now waged as a soft war. Insidious, less visible to unknowing, uninformed eyes. But all too visible for those whose eyes remain on that which feeds us, on those who feed us.

So why take Halealoha prisoner? Why demand the ransom of information, which is benign by Western standards of law, culture and religion?

It is more than simple divide and conquer. More than just riling up the natives and pitting them one against another. In one fell swoop, it is an attempt to invalidate who we are, disconnecting us from 'aina and kupuna. And so the one who stands in place for us, e na po'e Hawai'i, remains necessarily silent. But our voices continue to gather, stirring the wind.

Terrorist threat is America's punishment

The Bible states that a leader is the anointed of God in his country with a solemn warning: "Do not rise against the Anointed lest a curse should come upon that land." (Romans 13:1-3)

Never in history has a U.S. president been so lambasted as President Bush. However, I believe that he trusts God in that he (God) is in control of everything. I'm a Christian, and I know why he is so steadfast on his decisions. I've been in rough times myself and yet have had God's peace with me.

These uniquely difficult and trying events have come based on, I believe, our gross harassment of our president. Whether or not the Bible is true, I see a relationship between ourselves and these hard times.

The terrorists are not our enemy, but rather we are the enemy to ourselves. Terrorists are only a tool to hard-press America's economy. God is not angry with the terrorists but is angry at our wickedness.

There are no checks on presidential power

Our forefathers used an intelligent design when they created the executive, congressional and judicial branches of government to provide a system of checks and balances so that no one would have complete control over our government. But that plan has hit a glitch, as President Bush seems to have unlimited control now.

Was it the last straw after we learned that there weren't any WMD, while there was war profiteering in a mission that wasn't accomplished? Could America handle anymore? Apparently so, as she hardly flinched when we learned our government planted propaganda pieces in the media that made Bush's policies look good.

Has America been so conditioned that the president is able to violate the Constitution? Probably so, as numerous Americans have been the targets of warrantless wiretaps! Clearly this is no laughing matter, but you may want to smile, And you may want to cover up, that is if you want to look good, just in case Bush progresses from wiretaps to using hidden cameras in your home, office or hotel room. Could martial law be next?