City should allow direct property tax payment

The city has recently developed a system to e-mail notices of property taxes to save resources. Why not go all the way and also allow payment of taxes by credit card or direct payment from checking accounts? The administrative costs of collection and deposit of funds is so outdated.

Further, this would be more convenient for the public and less time consuming for the city. Think about it!

Smaller schools just aren't cost-effective

Regarding ”;Closing underused schools statewide is a smart move”; (”;Our opinion,”; Nov. 29): For years, the Board of Education has not had the gumption to consolidate schools when under pressure from local communities protesting the closing of their schools.

I agree with the Star-Bulletin that small schools need to be closed. Old schools need more repairs than newer schools, so it makes sense to consolidate those with small enrollments. Small schools are using funding that should be going to schools in growing districts of the state. Staffing small schools is very costly. For example, if a school has only 78 students, they still need a principal, a librarian and a counselor. Those same positions in large schools service more than 1,000 students! The funds used for staffing small schools are desperately needed in overcrowded schools.

Parents and communities are being selfish when they protest the closing of their schools by not looking at the big picture, but only their personal interests.

Continuing with the status quo is not acceptable and by school consolidation, we can fairly and equitably distribute our limited resources for all students statewide.

Kahala road workers can't get it straight

Not only is Kahala Avenue looking like a ghetto and war zone due to Genshiro Kawamoto's follies but now the state has added to the blight. I was dismayed Sunday when I drove down Kahala Avenue only to see further visual pollution by the recent painting of road lines over freshly paved asphalt. I mean, give me a break - not only are the lines not straight but they are also not equally spaced.

This all adds to the sense of a Third World atmosphere on Oahu, with huge piles of garbage on the street for days, Kawamoto's blight and now this irresponsible and unsafe act. Doesn't anyone take pride in their work?

Raise is needed to attract good legislators

Your Dec. 1 editorial “;Ban conflicts of interest for full-time legislators”; leaves out an important point.

In 2008, the House took a tremendous step forward and updated its rules so that Hawaii representatives are required to publicly disclose and request a determination on all potential conflicts of interest prior to voting. A conflict is defined as legislation that “;affects the member's direct personal, familial, or financial interest, except if the member or member's relative is part of a class of people affected by the legislation.”;

In meeting these standards of conduct, it is also the legislator's right and responsibility to cast votes to address the needs of their community and constituents. The voters should then hold members accountable for how well these factors are ultimately balanced.

In Hawaii, the Legislature is considered part-time because it officially meets for only part of the year, but the duties of responding to constituents, attending community events and meetings, and representing all of the people in the district are not limited to the legislative session. They take place throughout the year. Therefore, when I stated that a legislator's position is “;full-time,”; I did not mean to equate that to a standard 40-hour/week job. Rather, I meant that the duties and time required of a Hawaii lawmaker are definitely a full-time, year-round obligation.

The 2008 election clearly demonstrated that we have a challenge recruiting qualified candidates to run for office. The process already addresses potential conflicts. The salary commission has determined that the raise is to a pay level that is appropriate given that lawmakers have not received a significant increase in more than 15 years. Let's not make it even more burdensome for those who aspire to public service.

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