Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 11, 1 November 2006 — Housing and conservation amendment [ARTICLE]

Housing and conservation amendment

Among the 12 proposed Honolulu City Charter amendment that will be on the ballot for O'ahu voters on Nov. 7 is one that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has supported - Charter Question 3, whieh would set aside one percent of county property taxes for affordable housing development and land conservation. If the proposal passes, a minimum of one percent of property tax revenues would be divided equally between two special funds: the "Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund," whieh would be used to acquire real estate for land conservation, and the "Affordable Housing Fund," whieh would be used to provide and maintain affordable housing for people who earn less than 50 percent of the median household ineome in the city. Currently, there are no specially dedicated city revenues on O'ahu for land conservation or affordable housing. Supporters of the amendment point out that its passage would not raise taxes, but simply allocate the one-percent portion from existing property-tax revenues. In 2002, both Maui and Kaua'i counties passed similar measures, they say, and tax rates have not risen in either county. Earlier this year, OHA testified before the Honolulu Charter Conunission in favor of placing the measure on the ballot, saying it would promote partnerships that would help OHA fulfill its mandate of bettering housing conditions for Hawaiians. Other supporters of the measure include: Catholic Charities Hawai'i, Hawai'i Habitat for Humanity, the Institute for Human Services, KAHEA - The HawaiianEnvironmental Allianee, the League of Women Voters of Honolulu, the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land-Hawai'i.

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