To whom it may concern,
This is my testimony for the Budget Plan Fiscal Year 2026.
Property Taxes
I would like to express my concern in the increase of property taxes. It is not feasible to continuously hit the middle-class people who are working so hard to just keep their properties. Why are we not offering tax exemptions for Seniors? The islands of Oahu, Kauai and Big Island of Hawaii have exemptions for seniors.
See below what the other island offers the seniors:
Oahu
Under age 65 - $80,000.00 Exemption
Over age 65 - $120, 000.00 Exemption
65 and older - $140,000.00 - $200,000.00 Exemption
Kauai
Age 60-70 - $180,000.00 Exemption
70 and older - $200,000.00
Big Island of Hawaii
Under Age 60 - $40,000.00 + 20% (Not to exceed $80,000.00)
Age 60-69 - $80,000.00 Exemption
70 and older - $100,000.00
Before looking to raise our property taxes, make it a priority to collect the outstanding taxes that are already years and years overdue. How is it fair to abiding citizens when they sacrifice and do without the luxuries in life to be able to pay what we owe.
Another program that could be extended to everyone not just a selected group is Bill 118 which was introduced in November 19, 2021.
This Aina Kupuna Lands could benefit many Upcountry residents and families. Why were we excluded from this bill, this needs to be amended island wide.
County Refuse
Why are we not transitioning into sub-stations like the Big Island of Hawaii, parts of Kauai and Oahu.
Sub stations would be more cost-effective for our county all the way around if done properly. This will hopefully eliminate much of the trash we see on the roadsides.
Many residents can't afford trash pick-up or even going to the landfill which is very far from our neighborhoods.
Grants
Grants are meant for start-up not a continuous bank account. If a group or agency cannot stand alone after one year then it is up to them to find additional funding, the county cannot keep funding with our tax dollars. We have roads and parks that have been neglected for years because of a lack of funding. We need to provide our residents with better roads and upkeeping our parks to better standards with taxpayer dollars.
Motor Vehicle Registration
Again, like our property tax, our motor vehicle keeps increasing but yet you drive around to see many expired safety and registration vehicles while we again sacrifice to pay our vehicles as law abiding citizens. Go after these people and collect those funds.
Making laws is great but it needs to be enforced.
Every year it goes up, but our roads are still unacceptable. In the upcountry area there are more buildings, more homes - the traffic is bad, before doing more building improve the roads. Make it safe, this is what we are paying motor vehicle taxes for.
My name is Mark Guaglione, and I am testifying in support of Maui Economic Development Board’s programs.
I have been a part of the Kalama STEMworks program since I was hired as a teacher in 2016. Students and families appreciate our parent nights, 21st century skills, and engineering skills being taught to our rural communities.
The supplies and workshops offered by STEMworks have allowed me to expand the opportunities given to these students. For example, students were able to create an AI prosthetic hand, travel to other islands for STEM conferences and workshops, and design 3D prints to improve our environment.
Please continue to fund our programs. Without this funding, I know our students, communities, and teachers in upcountry Maui will be disadvantaged with less opportunities to learn STEM.
Thanks so much for coming out into the community to hear our concerns and wishes for a better future. My name is Gerry Ross and with my wife Janet and her family we have been growing food for Maui for 46 years, doing business as Kupa’a Farms. We grow vegetables, tropical fruit, coffee, cacao, and vanilla. I am a past board member of MCFB and a founding member and past president Maui Coffee Association. I have been a mentor in the FAM program since Day 1.
Maui Coffee Association receives County funding through MCFB as part of their grant from OED. We have used these funds for educational outreach, getting farmers to annual Hawaii Coffee Association meetings and, of course, putting on our ever popular Seed to Cup festival which drew over 2500 participants to Maui Tropical Plantation last summer. Maui coffee is excellent quality and routinely runs neck and neck (or better!) than well known Kona coffee in state cupping trials. Maui coffee, like all Hawaiian coffee, is facing some difficult times due to the emergence of new pests (coffee berry borer) and diseases (coffee leaf rust) over the last decade. These are not problems the can be solved by individual coffee farmers but require the efforts of the larger coffee community, including CTAHR. The recent cuts by the Trump administration have impacted us through the loss of research staff at the USDA office in Hilo and it is critical that state and municipal governments do what they can to back fill these vacuums. CTAHR has been instrumental is developing approaches to managing coffee berry borer and developing new coffee varieties that are resistant to coffee leaf rust.
MEO farmer microgrants are one way to help local farmers and as a past recipient of one of these grants during the inaugural year of these grants we are very grateful for the help. We were able to build a covered nursery for our plant starts, repair the roof on our large screened greenhouse, and pay for half of our new on-farm vehicle. I cannot stress enough the strained dynamic that we see as our communities strive for food security and sustainability in the face of a lack of funding from the federal government, the most recent example being the loss of funds for food banks and the farmers they support at the local level. Anything the Council can do to keep funds flowing that allows the agricultural community to feed our people is essential. We appreciate past support and will work to make sure future funds are well used.
As a member of The Sewing Hui for the past year, I’ve been very impressed with the organization in every way. It’s a thrill to participate with other like-minded people living on and visiting Maui in making costumes, walker bags, stuffing giant teddy bears and other projects. When the Sewcial was first announced, I knew it was near and dear to my heart: Keeping textiles out of the landfill is an incredibly worthy goal and the group has enjoyed each others’ company and support in doing so with each event. I personally have repaired or altered more than 30 items! I’ll also mention the wonderful sense of community fostered through these events, as well as the volunteer opportunities the Hui provides.
I hope you’ll find the project worthy of your continued support.
With sincere aloha,
Tia
Teresa A. Lanzetta
P.O. Box 532550, Kihei, HI 96753
858-523-1SPA (1772)
To whom it may concern,
This is my testimony for the Budget Plan Fiscal Year 2026.
Property Taxes
I would like to express my concern in the increase of property taxes. It is not feasible to continuously hit the middle-class people who are working so hard to just keep their properties. Why are we not offering tax exemptions for Seniors? The islands of Oahu, Kauai and Big Island of Hawaii have exemptions for seniors.
See below what the other island offers the seniors:
Oahu
Under age 65 - $80,000.00 Exemption
Over age 65 - $120, 000.00 Exemption
65 and older - $140,000.00 - $200,000.00 Exemption
Kauai
Age 60-70 - $180,000.00 Exemption
70 and older - $200,000.00
Big Island of Hawaii
Under Age 60 - $40,000.00 + 20% (Not to exceed $80,000.00)
Age 60-69 - $80,000.00 Exemption
70 and older - $100,000.00
Before looking to raise our property taxes, make it a priority to collect the outstanding taxes that are already years and years overdue. How is it fair to abiding citizens when they sacrifice and do without the luxuries in life to be able to pay what we owe.
Another program that could be extended to everyone not just a selected group is Bill 118 which was introduced in November 19, 2021.
This Aina Kupuna Lands could benefit many Upcountry residents and families. Why were we excluded from this bill, this needs to be amended island wide.
County Refuse
Why are we not transitioning into sub-stations like the Big Island of Hawaii, parts of Kauai and Oahu.
Sub stations would be more cost-effective for our county all the way around if done properly. This will hopefully eliminate much of the trash we see on the roadsides.
Many residents can't afford trash pick-up or even going to the landfill which is very far from our neighborhoods.
Grants
Grants are meant for start-up not a continuous bank account. If a group or agency cannot stand alone after one year then it is up to them to find additional funding, the county cannot keep funding with our tax dollars. We have roads and parks that have been neglected for years because of a lack of funding. We need to provide our residents with better roads and upkeeping our parks to better standards with taxpayer dollars.
Motor Vehicle Registration
Again, like our property tax, our motor vehicle keeps increasing but yet you drive around to see many expired safety and registration vehicles while we again sacrifice to pay our vehicles as law abiding citizens. Go after these people and collect those funds.
Making laws is great but it needs to be enforced.
Every year it goes up, but our roads are still unacceptable. In the upcountry area there are more buildings, more homes - the traffic is bad, before doing more building improve the roads. Make it safe, this is what we are paying motor vehicle taxes for.
Mahalo Nui,
J.Aiwohi
Aiwohi Designs
My name is Mark Guaglione, and I am testifying in support of Maui Economic Development Board’s programs.
I have been a part of the Kalama STEMworks program since I was hired as a teacher in 2016. Students and families appreciate our parent nights, 21st century skills, and engineering skills being taught to our rural communities.
The supplies and workshops offered by STEMworks have allowed me to expand the opportunities given to these students. For example, students were able to create an AI prosthetic hand, travel to other islands for STEM conferences and workshops, and design 3D prints to improve our environment.
Please continue to fund our programs. Without this funding, I know our students, communities, and teachers in upcountry Maui will be disadvantaged with less opportunities to learn STEM.
Thank you,
Mark G
Aloha Councillors
Thanks so much for coming out into the community to hear our concerns and wishes for a better future. My name is Gerry Ross and with my wife Janet and her family we have been growing food for Maui for 46 years, doing business as Kupa’a Farms. We grow vegetables, tropical fruit, coffee, cacao, and vanilla. I am a past board member of MCFB and a founding member and past president Maui Coffee Association. I have been a mentor in the FAM program since Day 1.
Maui Coffee Association receives County funding through MCFB as part of their grant from OED. We have used these funds for educational outreach, getting farmers to annual Hawaii Coffee Association meetings and, of course, putting on our ever popular Seed to Cup festival which drew over 2500 participants to Maui Tropical Plantation last summer. Maui coffee is excellent quality and routinely runs neck and neck (or better!) than well known Kona coffee in state cupping trials. Maui coffee, like all Hawaiian coffee, is facing some difficult times due to the emergence of new pests (coffee berry borer) and diseases (coffee leaf rust) over the last decade. These are not problems the can be solved by individual coffee farmers but require the efforts of the larger coffee community, including CTAHR. The recent cuts by the Trump administration have impacted us through the loss of research staff at the USDA office in Hilo and it is critical that state and municipal governments do what they can to back fill these vacuums. CTAHR has been instrumental is developing approaches to managing coffee berry borer and developing new coffee varieties that are resistant to coffee leaf rust.
MEO farmer microgrants are one way to help local farmers and as a past recipient of one of these grants during the inaugural year of these grants we are very grateful for the help. We were able to build a covered nursery for our plant starts, repair the roof on our large screened greenhouse, and pay for half of our new on-farm vehicle. I cannot stress enough the strained dynamic that we see as our communities strive for food security and sustainability in the face of a lack of funding from the federal government, the most recent example being the loss of funds for food banks and the farmers they support at the local level. Anything the Council can do to keep funds flowing that allows the agricultural community to feed our people is essential. We appreciate past support and will work to make sure future funds are well used.
To Whom It May Concern:
As a member of The Sewing Hui for the past year, I’ve been very impressed with the organization in every way. It’s a thrill to participate with other like-minded people living on and visiting Maui in making costumes, walker bags, stuffing giant teddy bears and other projects. When the Sewcial was first announced, I knew it was near and dear to my heart: Keeping textiles out of the landfill is an incredibly worthy goal and the group has enjoyed each others’ company and support in doing so with each event. I personally have repaired or altered more than 30 items! I’ll also mention the wonderful sense of community fostered through these events, as well as the volunteer opportunities the Hui provides.
I hope you’ll find the project worthy of your continued support.
With sincere aloha,
Tia
Teresa A. Lanzetta
P.O. Box 532550, Kihei, HI 96753
858-523-1SPA (1772)