Council OKs agriculture tax break change

Large parcels of land would have to be dedicated for agricultural use for a five-year period for landowners to receive the associated tax breaks, under a proposal adopted by the City Council.

Bill 44 (11), passed Wednesday by unanimous vote, eliminates one-year agricultural dedications as sought by the city’s Real Property Assessment Division.

The measure allows landowners to preserve the tax breaks on parcels of land when sections of it are rezoned for other use, such as commercial or industrial. Tax breaks would continue on land that remains in agriculture.

Currently, if any part of the parcel is taken out of agricultural use during the commitment period, landowners must pay back taxes for the entire parcel for the entire period. Under Bill 44, back taxes would be owed only on the portion of land that is taken out of agricultural use.

Council members also gave initial approval to a proposal to establish a flat-rate taxi fare from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki. Bill 51 (11) does not specify a rate and leaves final approval for any such fare to the city transportation director.