Property tax relief should be left to voters

By: Trustee Rowena Akana

Source: Letter to the Editor, Star-Bulletin, February 1, 2006

I was disappointed that the Honolulu Charter Commission recently rejected a proposal that would have given voters the power to make property tax relief a reality. Property owners on Oahu missed a perfect opportunity to set a cap of assessed property values at 2004 levels. I have no doubt that the amendment to the City Charter would have passed had it been added to the November ballot.

This was probably our only chance to reduce our ridiculously inflated city property tax assessments. There is still time before the November election. Let’s give residents suffering under double-digit property tax increases the chance to be heard.