MEDIA ADVISORY
May 19, 2020
Affordable should mean affordable
Property tax relief measure for affordable housing units on Special Council agenda
WHAT: Bill 34 (2020) relating to real property tax relief for affordable housing
WHEN: Beginning at approximately 11 a.m. Wednesday May 20, 2020
WHERE: Honolulu Hale, Council Chamber, third floor
WHY: To ensure that buyers of affordable housing units are not gouged by unfair real property tax assessments.
Bill 34, introduced by Councilmembers Kym Pine and Joey Manahan, would bar the city from using resales of expensive homes to determine the property value of affordable units for property tax assessment purposes.
We worked hard to create affordable housing, but some people are having to move out in a year because the city is unfairly calculating their property taxes, Pine said.
Owners of units at 1631 Kapiolani Blvd. saw their property taxes quadruple, for instance. The bill provides real property tax relief for government-mandated affordable housing units, whose initial sales were reserved for buyers with household incomes in the low- or moderate-income ranges.
Bill 34 (2020):
http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-257401/BILL034(20).pdf
The meeting will be viewable:
(1) On monitors situated outside of the meeting room;
(2) Internet live streaming through www.honolulucitycouncil.com and http://olelo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish id=92; and
(3) Live broadcast on Olelo TV Channel 54.
The agenda and methods of submitting testimony:
http://honolulu.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=3&event_id=625
Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One, comprising portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko Olina, Nnkuli, Mili, Waianae, Mkaha, Keaau and Makua) and is chair of the City Councils Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.
Media Contact:
Erika Engle
Communications Director
erika [dot] engle honolulu [dot] gov
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