HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

27

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

Urging counties to make a concerted effort to develop a senior tax work-off program to help pay real property taxes.

 

WHEREAS, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism projected that Hawaii’s population age 65 and over will reach 14 to 18 percent of the total population; and

WHEREAS, more than two-thirds of pre- and working retirees want to work to stay active and be useful; and

WHEREAS, the need for money is the primary reason for pre- and working retirees to work in retirement; and

WHEREAS, if seniors who live on a fixed income remain in their homes after retirement, rising real property tax becomes a higher proportion of their expenses; and

WHEREAS, in order to assist seniors with paying property taxes, counties in several states including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and South Carolina have implemented property tax work-off programs for seniors, called the "Senior Tax Work-Off Program"; and

WHEREAS, in view of the high cost of living and other expenses of owning a home, a Senior Tax Work-Off Program in Hawaii would offer seniors an opportunity to earn money toward their real property taxes by performing a variety of tasks at county offices (e.g., custodial, clerical, paraprofessional, and food services); and

WHEREAS, counties in other states that have adopted these programs have instituted requirements including that the number of seniors hired will be based on the available funding for the program; the senior must live on the property where the taxes are due; the senior must be 60 years or older; the senior is to be classified as a temporary county employee; a maximum amount may be earned (e.g., $500) at a rate equal to the minimum wage; and seniors are not paid through payroll, but instead receive a reduction in their property tax bills (e.g., tax voucher or automatic abatement); and

WHEREAS, senior residents of the four counties of Hawaii could have the same opportunity to temporarily work for the county and, in turn, reduce the burden of their property tax bill; and

WHEREAS, seniors should be provided supportive services in an effort to maintain and improve quality of life so that they will be able to stay in their homes as long as possible; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that each county is respectfully urged to establish a program to allow senior citizens to work for county offices to earn an amount to be credited to the payment of their property taxes, known as the "Senior Tax Work-Off Program"; and

BE IT RESOLVED that each county is requested to report to the Legislature its progress in developing and implementing the program not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayors and Council Chairs of the counties of Kauai, Maui, Hawaii and the City and County of Honolulu, and the Executive Office on Aging.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Senior Tax Work-off Program; Real Property Taxes