Maui County is long overdue for infrastructure upgrade and the elimination of the monopoly Charter has. HawaiiTel needs incentive to bring high speed internet to the masses and open up the competition. Right now, Lahaina is a great opportunity to bring in multiple vendors to offer a choice of high speed access. As utilities are put underground, now is a great opportunity to plan to bring it all together. 5g options are also available however mobile operators are slow to upgrade Hawaii infrastructure. We can do better. We should do better. We are literally connected to the pan pacific fibre and there is no reason we cannot utilize our unique global position.
A high speed home internet connection should cost on average, $25 a month with no data cap. High speed should mean 100mbps or faster, not the 20 year old federal definition of 25mbps. We can subsidize for low income users. This is not that difficult, we can do this. Bring in viable choices beyond HawaiiTel and Charter.
We are seeking property tax relief because our Puamana home has been rendered uninhabitable due to Lahaina fire. There is no water or sewage; and most likely that condition will continue well into the future. Neither owner, resident nor tourist can dwell in any still standing condo in Puamana and it seems unfair to have to pay taxes at this time on an unusable, uninhabitable property. We have been owners for over 20 years and have faithfully paid our exorbitant taxes during that time. We are owners who rent our condo for the enjoyment of tourists and they, in turn, help the economy of Maui. Where would you be without tourists? When our property becomes usable, we would be more than willing to offer affordable rental to displaced Puamana fire victims.
Please say no to TVR's and only provide tax relief to residents or priorities willing to rent long term, affordable rent to displaced Lahaina residents. We understand Puamana is attempting to mobilize their large foreign investor TVR owners to try and seek the same tax relief. While also attempting to keep locals out. This is appalling. Please only allow residents and LTR any tax relief.
Say yes to residents and properties willing to rent affordable and long term
Say no to investment property that really does not need any tax break at all. TVR's should not be included. Puamana is worried owner may have to sell to residents. Puamana appears to be opposed to residents. We hear the same for Lahaina Shores. Either way, please exclude TVR and include Long Term Rentals in the tax exemptions. Shame on Puamana, shame.
Bill 95 that will be up for vote on Thursday includes important provisions for property owners in the fire disaster zone that have been deprived of the enjoyment of their property, but continue to be liable for short term rental real estate taxes.
It is now obvious that Lahaina will be uninhabitable for quite some time, as electrical connections can be restored, water hooked up again, and toxic debris cleared away. Recent comments by John Stufflebean, the director of Maui County’s Department of Water Supply suggest this may be two to three years.
Short term rentals in the devastated town will be far longer to return.
It is only fair to suspend Real Estate taxes until the property can be enjoyed as intended.
I ask that you vote for Bill 95 as amended by Ms. Paltin as a fair way to accommodate the significant losses incurred by owners whose properties are unusable, yet who want to continue their special connection to Lahaina.
Thank you for working through this terrible time for Lahaina, and helping rebuild Maui for future generations.
Mahalo and aloha,
Nick Seiersen
Maui County is long overdue for infrastructure upgrade and the elimination of the monopoly Charter has. HawaiiTel needs incentive to bring high speed internet to the masses and open up the competition. Right now, Lahaina is a great opportunity to bring in multiple vendors to offer a choice of high speed access. As utilities are put underground, now is a great opportunity to plan to bring it all together. 5g options are also available however mobile operators are slow to upgrade Hawaii infrastructure. We can do better. We should do better. We are literally connected to the pan pacific fibre and there is no reason we cannot utilize our unique global position.
A high speed home internet connection should cost on average, $25 a month with no data cap. High speed should mean 100mbps or faster, not the 20 year old federal definition of 25mbps. We can subsidize for low income users. This is not that difficult, we can do this. Bring in viable choices beyond HawaiiTel and Charter.
We are seeking property tax relief because our Puamana home has been rendered uninhabitable due to Lahaina fire. There is no water or sewage; and most likely that condition will continue well into the future. Neither owner, resident nor tourist can dwell in any still standing condo in Puamana and it seems unfair to have to pay taxes at this time on an unusable, uninhabitable property. We have been owners for over 20 years and have faithfully paid our exorbitant taxes during that time. We are owners who rent our condo for the enjoyment of tourists and they, in turn, help the economy of Maui. Where would you be without tourists? When our property becomes usable, we would be more than willing to offer affordable rental to displaced Puamana fire victims.
Gerald and Arlene Bachecki
Please say no to TVR's and only provide tax relief to residents or priorities willing to rent long term, affordable rent to displaced Lahaina residents. We understand Puamana is attempting to mobilize their large foreign investor TVR owners to try and seek the same tax relief. While also attempting to keep locals out. This is appalling. Please only allow residents and LTR any tax relief.
Say yes to residents and properties willing to rent affordable and long term
Say no to investment property that really does not need any tax break at all. TVR's should not be included. Puamana is worried owner may have to sell to residents. Puamana appears to be opposed to residents. We hear the same for Lahaina Shores. Either way, please exclude TVR and include Long Term Rentals in the tax exemptions. Shame on Puamana, shame.
Bill 95 that will be up for vote on Thursday includes important provisions for property owners in the fire disaster zone that have been deprived of the enjoyment of their property, but continue to be liable for short term rental real estate taxes.
It is now obvious that Lahaina will be uninhabitable for quite some time, as electrical connections can be restored, water hooked up again, and toxic debris cleared away. Recent comments by John Stufflebean, the director of Maui County’s Department of Water Supply suggest this may be two to three years.
Short term rentals in the devastated town will be far longer to return.
It is only fair to suspend Real Estate taxes until the property can be enjoyed as intended.
I ask that you vote for Bill 95 as amended by Ms. Paltin as a fair way to accommodate the significant losses incurred by owners whose properties are unusable, yet who want to continue their special connection to Lahaina.
Thank you for working through this terrible time for Lahaina, and helping rebuild Maui for future generations.
Mahalo and aloha,
Nick Seiersen