STAND. COM. REP. NO.  14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 833

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 833 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to work towards meeting the need for affordable housing, care for the elderly, and services for Hawaii's disadvantaged by providing general excise tax (GET) credits for affordable rental housing and community health care facility development that occurs within a mixed-use transit-oriented joint development project.

 

     The Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu and Hawaii Association of REALTORS testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Taxation testified in opposition to this bill.  The Tax Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

 

     Housing and transportation costs are the two largest costs faced by today's families.  Among other things, locating affordable housing and other community services near transit areas will allow families and persons living in these areas easier access to schools, jobs, health care centers, and social services.  Targeted tax policies to spur the growth of this type of development near transit locations will work toward the creation of more sustainable communities and increase the quality of life for those living in those communities.
     While your Committee does understand that the provision of GET credits may have an impact on the overall fiscal condition of the State, the importance of this matter deserves further consideration.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 833 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Housing and Health.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair