With reference to the empty-homes tax hearing (“Council scrutinizes empty-homes tax study,” Star-Advertiser, April 30):
First, Vancouver and Toronto are cities in a foreign country with different laws and constitutional requirements, so those examples should not apply in the U.S.
Second, many cities in the U.S. that have an empty-homes tax cap the maximum additional cost at around $6,000.
Third, Honolulu already has an empty-homes tax of sorts called Residential A: Tier 1 takes 0.4% per $1 million of taxable assessed value, up to $1 million; Tier 2 takes 1.14% per $1 million of taxable assessed value, in excess of $1 million.
Fourth, the San Francisco vacant- homes tax has been declared unconstitutional.
City Councilman Tommy Waters has been trying to force his pet project down our throats for years, and he has failed three times.
The $500,000 for the study should be refunded to Honolulu taxpayers.
Bob Gould
Kaneohe
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