ORDINANCES:

     Bills introduced or co-introduced by Councilmember Furfaro and adopted into law:
          B-2004-619   
          Establishing a contractual position for an “open space/public access specialist” within the Planning Department.
          2292  
          A bill for an ordinance amending chapter 5A, Kauai County code 1987, as amended, relating to real property tax appeals
          805  
          Establishing a real property tax “circuit breaker” credit for those homeowners with qualifying income levels.
          806  
          Establishing a “permanent home use” dedication for real property tax purposes that limits increases in real property taxes to not more than 2% a year.
          813  
          Relating to designation of open space areas. Provides for a zoning designation to allow lands to be placed into “permanent open space” or “permanent private park areas.”
          873  
          A bill for an ordinance amending chapter 5A, Kauai County code 1987, as amended, relating to Family Kuleana lands Adopted: 10/8/2008
          877  
          A bill for an ordinance amending chapter 5A, Kauai County code 1987, as amended, relating to Family Kuleana lands (Minimum Tax Code) Adopted: 1/28/2009
          896  
          A bill for an ordinance amending article 8 of chapter 8 Kauai County Code 1987, as amended, relating to development standards in the open district.
          905  
          Funding bill for the eradication and challenges with the Coqui frog invasive species.
          B-2007-651  $295,967 Kauai Invasive Species (Coqui frog)
          An ordinance amending ordinance No. B-2006-645, relating to the operating budget of the county of Kauai, State of Hawaii, for the fiscal year July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, by revising the surplus and appropriations estimated in the general fund. Co-introduced with Council member JoAnn Yukimura Adopted: 1/10/2007
          B-2008-675  $200,000 Energy Sustainability Plan
          A bill for an ordinance to amend ordinance No. B-2008-673 as amended, relating to the capital improvements budget of the county of Kauai, State of Hawaii, for the fiscal year July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, by revising the surplus and appropriations estimated in the general fund. Co-introduced with Council member JoAnn Yukimura Adopted: 7/30/200
     Selected bills adopted into law and supported by Councilmember Furfaro:
          B-2008-668  $6,070,000 Pono Kai Seawall, Aliomanu Road, Kapaa Ocean Study, Moana Kai Shoreline,...
          An ordinance amending ordinance No. B-2007-657 as amended, relating to the capital budget of the county of Kauai, State of Hawaii, for the fiscal year July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008, by revising the surplus and appropriations estimated in the general fund. Adopted: 4/9/2008
          PM-2010-397  
          A bill for an ordinance amending ordinance No. PM-228-91, relating to general plan designation in Kilauea, Kauai (County of Kauai, Applicant) Adopted: 1/21/2010

RESOLUTIONS:

     Resolutions introduced or co-introduced by Councilmember Furfaro and adopted by the Council:
          2003-21, Draft 1  
          Requesting that the Administration update the County’s Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan and review source reduction and diversion technologies such as recycling, composting, and “waste-to-energy” to extend the life of the Kekaha Landfill.
          2003-42  
          Supporting U.S. House Resolution No. 2619, the Kîlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2003 (co-introduced).
          2004-15, Draft 2  
          Requesting that the Administration pursue the acquisition of government roads to preserve public access to the mountains and beaches of Kaua‘i
          2007-71  
          Requesting the State Land Use Commission to preserve and protect the integrity of the archaeological and historical resources on Knudsen Trust Land at Poipu, District of Koloa.
          2007-72  
          Proposing an amendment to Chapter 8, Kaua`i County Code 1987, relating to zoning designation in Hanalei.
          2007-73  
          Proposing an amendment to Chapter 10, Article 2, Kaua`i County Code, 1987, relating to the North Shore Development Plan.
          2008-10  
          Requesting the Administration to pursue implementation of the Koloa-Poipu Area Circulation Plan (KPACP).
          2009-048  
          Resolution to establish a special advisory committee to review and recommend amendments to the rules of the county council of the County of Kauai be it resolved by the council of the County of Kauai, State of Hawaii Co-introduced with Council member Dickie Chang
     Selected resolutions adopted by the Council and supported by Councilmember Furfaro:
          2003-14, Draft 1  
          Supporting efforts undertaken by the Mayor to deal with the issue of drugs on Kaua‘i.
          2004-19, Draft 1  
          Establishing real property tax rates for the 2004-2005 Fiscal Year. In addition to reducing rates by 20˘ for buildings and land in all classes of real property, rates for land in all classes were further reduced by 15˘.
          2007-71  
          Resolution requesting the State Land Use Commission to preserve and protect the integrity of the archaeological and historical resources on Knudsen Trust Land at Poipu, District of Koloa Adopted: 4/25/2007
          2008-26 D1  
          Resolution initiating charter amendment relating to the office of the county auditor Adopted: 8/13/2008
          2008-41  
          Resolution renaming Hapa Road to Hapa Trail in the County of Kauai Co-introduced with Council member JoAnn Yukimura Adopted: 8/13/2008

BILLS:

     Bills co-introduced by Councilmember Furfaro and currently being considered by the Council:
          2107  
          This bill extends the existing “permanent home use” dedication for real property tax purposes that limits increases in real property taxes to not more than 6% a year to an additional dwelling unit on those parcels which contain more than one dwelling unit, provided that one dwelling unit qualifies for a homeowners exemption and the additional dwelling unit is leased to a family member for three (3) or more years.
     Bills currently being considered by the Council and supported by Councilmember Furfaro:
          2106  
          Extending the real property tax “circuit breaker” credit for those homeowners with qualifying income levels to December 31, 2008.

CHARTER AMENDMENT RESOLUTION:

     Resolution for a Charter amendment introduced by Councilmember Furfaro and currently being considered by the Council:
          2004-36  
          Amending Article 28 of the Charter, relating to the Cost Control Commission, to expand the scope of its responsibilities to include consideration of the County’s revenue estimates when preparing the County’s Annual Budget, to conduct research on the County’s overall revenues and costs, and to change the name of the commission to the “Revenue and Cost Control Commission”.

BILLS:

     Bills introduced to the Agenda by Council Chairman Furfaro
          Bill No. 2549  Draft 2: Residential Investor Tax Classification
         
  • Separate tax classification for properties that do not qualify for home exemption, are improved with a dwelling unit(s), not vacant land, are not being rented on a long-term basis, and have an assessed value of $2,000,000 or more.
  •           Bill No. 2554  Real Property Tax Relief for the 2014 Tax Year
             
  • Provides short-term tax relief for taxpayers who were affected by the removal of the Permanent Home Use (PHU) Tax Limit, for the 2014 tax year only.
  • Those in the Homestead and Residential tax classes who received a Real Property Tax (RPT) bill that increased by more than $500 will receive a tax credit for 70% of the assessed taxes which exceed the sum of the taxes assessed for the 2013 tax year plus $500.
  • Extends the due date for the first half payment of RPT from August 20, 2014 to December 31, 2014, for property owners that have current Home Use exemptions.
  • Retroactively waives the penalties and interest accumulated during the period of the extended deadline, if any.
  •           Bill No. 2555  Real Property Tax Relief Funding - $750,000
             
  • Supplemental Money Bill to amend the Operating Budget for FY 2015 for reduction in RPT revenue.
  • Submitted with Bill No. 2554.
  •           Bill No. 2556  Reinstating the Permanent Home Use Tax Limit
             
  • Reinstates the Permanent Home Use (PHU) Tax Limit that was removed via Ordinance No. 953 in 2013.
  • Any owner who has a home exemption under Sec. 5A-11.4, K.C.C. 1987, shall receive a permanent home use tax limit and shall be taxed based on its assessed value, provided that, any increase in taxes from the prior tax year shall not exceed the greater of 0% a year or the latest annual Honolulu Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U).
  • For the tax year 2014 only, real property tax bills shall be the same as in tax year 2013. The difference shall be adjusted towards the owner’s next real property tax bill.
  • All penalties and fees due for delinquent taxes shall be waived for tax year 2014 only.
  •           Bill No. 2557  Low Income Tax Credit
             
  • Provides a tax credit for homeowners whose household income does not exceed 50% of the Kaua‘i Median Household Income, as defined in the Kaua‘i County Housing Agency Affordable Rental Housing Guideline.
  • Credits will be issued in the amount that the RPT assessed on the homeowner’s property for the current year exceeds 3% of the household income (“household income” means the total gross income of all titleholders for the preceding tax year).
  • Applies to “Homeowners” who filed and was granted a home exemption claim under Section 5A-11.4 of the Code.
  •           Bill No. 2558  Retroactive Real Property Tax Measures and Extensions
             
  • Provides for any claim for an exemption, including Long Term Affordable Rental, and Home Preservation Tax Limit application for the 2015 tax year to be retroactively applied to the claimant’s real property tax bill for the 2014 tax year.
  • Provides for an owner to submit a new “Use Survey Form” by December 31, 2014 for the 2014 tax year and to receive tax credit in tax year 2015.
  • Waives all penalties and interest for delinquent payment due to incorrect tax classification.
  •           Bill No. 2559  Tax on Use
             
  • Allows for a property with multiple actual uses to be classified under each applicable tax classification based on the percentage of the property dedicated to each use.

  • Voting Record - Jay Furfaro - Kauai County Council - 2003 - 2014