STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3216

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 455

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 455, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Board of Taxation Review, 2nd Taxation District (Maui)

 

G.M. No. 455

MICHELE A. KATO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Michele A. Kato from the Department of Taxation, Chair of the Board of Taxation Review, 2nd Taxation District (Maui), and three individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that the nominee's many years of experience in the area of tax and accounting, activity in the Maui tax community and in professional organizations, and support from her peers qualify her to serve on the Board of Taxation Review for the 2nd Taxation District.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Kato received a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a major in Accounting.  Ms. Kato is a certified public accountant and currently the owner of the firm Michele A. Kato & Co., LLC.  She has twenty-six years of experience in the area of tax and accounting, including prior service with the firms of Hirose, Kato, & Co., LLP and Makiya & Sakai, CPAs.  Ms. Kato is a member of professional organizations that include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants.  Your Committee believes that the nominee's strong integrity and the quality of her work, as noted by several of her supporters, would benefit the Board of Taxation Review, as well as Hawaii taxpayers and the tax community.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair