Bill103 (2023) to amend Chapter 3.48, Maui County Code, relating to real property tax rate tiers for the agricultural classification and lands dedicated for agricultural use
Aloha Chair Sugimura and Members of the Committee:
The Maui County Farm Bureau has concerns regarding Bill I03 relating to dedication and real property tax rate tiers. Our concerns are listed below;
• There is a wide range of agricultural potential of lands currently zoned as agriculture
• Traditionally, potential was directly related to soil type and access to water
• Agriculture technology is evolving rapidly and even here on Maui, lands rated in the lowest ag potential category have proven to be one of
the most valuable due to it's location and hydroponic technology
• Who will decide how these tiers are established?
• Will this force development due to the higher tax rates?
• Is tiering consistent with Maui's General Plan?
• There is a demand and desire for rural land use. The term has been misunderstood and created fear resulting in opposition in the past, It's
original intent was to be an interface between agriculture and urban land use. It does not need to be a stepping stone to urban if managed
correctly. Such a category would also protect agriculture.
• Land use that depends on punitive measures depending on inspection seems to require significant resources with possible legal
challenges. A one time reclassification of agricultural lands with strong will to abide by the terms of the plan is a best use of public
resources. Such planning will allow thoughtful investments of pubic infrastructure and support for agricultural operations.
Without such a plan, haphazard development as is currently happening may result often on lands best used for agriculture.
• Agriculture cannot be forced. Various factors need to come together. Maui is challenged with access to one of the key elements for
successful agriculture and with climate change and regulations, access is changing. Water, land, labor, markets, and other on-site
locations and conditions must be considered for a successful operation.
• A well developed land, economic, social and environmental plan to support agricultural use is what is needed
• Other lands could be used for conservation, restoring native forests as appropriate. Well managed green areas serve as greenbelts that
can affect the temperature of adjacent cities while reducing the threat of uncontrolled wildfires.
The Maui County Farm Bureau cordially requests that this bill be held for further discussion and consideration.
Thank you.
Warren K. Watanabe, Executive Director
Maui County Farm Bureau
I am a generational farmer from Kula, fortunate to have purchased part of my family's farm with a USDA mortgage the same year I had brain surgery for a birth defect. I learned how to walk and talk again the farm saved my life. The farm is certified organic and has a Natural Resources Conservation Services Environmental Quality Incentives Program (NRCS EQIP) conservation plan that helps us conserve water and soil while also help ensuring our farms act as buffers that can protect the land, water and people from negative environmental factors like runoff and fire.
Low income, in my case, severely disabled, locals keep the funds we generate in the local economy and employ other locals. We should be given a break to help diversify the economy. My property taxes went from $400 per year, affordable but still what I could lease land for, to skyrocketing to over 75% of my gross income causing more health problems from the stress of potentially losing my life’s work. We should not be taxed out of our homes and livelihoods.
Please enable us to be granted no taxes for local low income disabled farmers meeting environmental criteria that makes our islands better able to handle disaster and diversify the economy as a tier.
Second tier could be property that is farmed but farmed by large out of state corporations who do not care for the land, allowing pesticides, micro plastics (PFAS), synthetic nutrients and precious top soil to drift past fence lines and into our water as they extract the profits. The large foreign corporations could and should pay far more to pay for the negative externalities our community has to currently cover for the billion dollar companies. As well as the extremely wealthy owners who do not use the Ag land and allow it to become a fire threat.
Third tier could be in between the two extremes the several gentlemen estates throughout upcountry, west side and elsewhere in the county and some commercial farms that can afford to pay some property tax but could also use some incentives to stay in ag production.
The fires highlighted a topic we were discussing at the soil and water districts meeting on August 7th, for decades before that UH Maui meeting and a few times since the fires, about large Ag land owners, carrots and sticks for Ag practices that go beyond our farms. We local low income farmers who love soil, water and people as one do not need carrots to do what is right but our current taxes are very high and the incentives would go directly back into the farm thus helping the local economy. Billionaires don’t need or even respond to incentives so at least a tax tier for them could help fund the local economy to diversify to more resilient local agriculture systems.
November 16. 2023
Testimony
Bill103 (2023) to amend Chapter 3.48, Maui County Code, relating to real property tax rate tiers for the agricultural classification and lands dedicated for agricultural use
Aloha Chair Sugimura and Members of the Committee:
The Maui County Farm Bureau has concerns regarding Bill I03 relating to dedication and real property tax rate tiers. Our concerns are listed below;
• There is a wide range of agricultural potential of lands currently zoned as agriculture
• Traditionally, potential was directly related to soil type and access to water
• Agriculture technology is evolving rapidly and even here on Maui, lands rated in the lowest ag potential category have proven to be one of
the most valuable due to it's location and hydroponic technology
• Who will decide how these tiers are established?
• Will this force development due to the higher tax rates?
• Is tiering consistent with Maui's General Plan?
• There is a demand and desire for rural land use. The term has been misunderstood and created fear resulting in opposition in the past, It's
original intent was to be an interface between agriculture and urban land use. It does not need to be a stepping stone to urban if managed
correctly. Such a category would also protect agriculture.
• Land use that depends on punitive measures depending on inspection seems to require significant resources with possible legal
challenges. A one time reclassification of agricultural lands with strong will to abide by the terms of the plan is a best use of public
resources. Such planning will allow thoughtful investments of pubic infrastructure and support for agricultural operations.
Without such a plan, haphazard development as is currently happening may result often on lands best used for agriculture.
• Agriculture cannot be forced. Various factors need to come together. Maui is challenged with access to one of the key elements for
successful agriculture and with climate change and regulations, access is changing. Water, land, labor, markets, and other on-site
locations and conditions must be considered for a successful operation.
• A well developed land, economic, social and environmental plan to support agricultural use is what is needed
• Other lands could be used for conservation, restoring native forests as appropriate. Well managed green areas serve as greenbelts that
can affect the temperature of adjacent cities while reducing the threat of uncontrolled wildfires.
The Maui County Farm Bureau cordially requests that this bill be held for further discussion and consideration.
Thank you.
Warren K. Watanabe, Executive Director
Maui County Farm Bureau
To: Maui County Council BFED
From: Robert Bence
RE: CD 1 version of Bill 103 (2023)
Aloha Council,
I am a generational farmer from Kula, fortunate to have purchased part of my family's farm with a USDA mortgage the same year I had brain surgery for a birth defect. I learned how to walk and talk again the farm saved my life. The farm is certified organic and has a Natural Resources Conservation Services Environmental Quality Incentives Program (NRCS EQIP) conservation plan that helps us conserve water and soil while also help ensuring our farms act as buffers that can protect the land, water and people from negative environmental factors like runoff and fire.
Low income, in my case, severely disabled, locals keep the funds we generate in the local economy and employ other locals. We should be given a break to help diversify the economy. My property taxes went from $400 per year, affordable but still what I could lease land for, to skyrocketing to over 75% of my gross income causing more health problems from the stress of potentially losing my life’s work. We should not be taxed out of our homes and livelihoods.
Please enable us to be granted no taxes for local low income disabled farmers meeting environmental criteria that makes our islands better able to handle disaster and diversify the economy as a tier.
Second tier could be property that is farmed but farmed by large out of state corporations who do not care for the land, allowing pesticides, micro plastics (PFAS), synthetic nutrients and precious top soil to drift past fence lines and into our water as they extract the profits. The large foreign corporations could and should pay far more to pay for the negative externalities our community has to currently cover for the billion dollar companies. As well as the extremely wealthy owners who do not use the Ag land and allow it to become a fire threat.
Third tier could be in between the two extremes the several gentlemen estates throughout upcountry, west side and elsewhere in the county and some commercial farms that can afford to pay some property tax but could also use some incentives to stay in ag production.
The fires highlighted a topic we were discussing at the soil and water districts meeting on August 7th, for decades before that UH Maui meeting and a few times since the fires, about large Ag land owners, carrots and sticks for Ag practices that go beyond our farms. We local low income farmers who love soil, water and people as one do not need carrots to do what is right but our current taxes are very high and the incentives would go directly back into the farm thus helping the local economy. Billionaires don’t need or even respond to incentives so at least a tax tier for them could help fund the local economy to diversify to more resilient local agriculture systems.
Mahalo
Rob