Question: Regarding the property tax assessment, do we get an extra exemption for being elderly?
Answer: The value of the home exemption for owner-occupants on Oahu increases at age 65. The basic exemption is $80,000, which rises to $120,000 for an owner-occupant who turns 65 on or before June 30 preceding the tax year the exemption is claimed, accor- ding to the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services’ Real Property Assessment Division.
Anyone with a basic home exemption should see the amount rise automatically once they reach the eligible age, assuming that their date of birth is on file with the city; this is one reason it is important to provide that information when initially applying for the exemption as an owner-occupant.
The value of the home exemption is deducted from the assessed value of the property, and the homeowner is taxed on the balance. The home exemption applies only to a home you own and in which you live.
Q: Do you know the date and time for the next drop-off for electronic items?
A: It is Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Waipahu Hongwanji Mission, 94-821 Kuhaulua St., according to the Going Green community recycling program. An unlimited amount of e-waste such as computers, monitors, printers and scanners will be accepted, as will as one TV per car, according to the organization. You asked about e-waste, so we’ll limit the description of acceptable items to that category, but these events do accept many other items as well. Find details at www.opala.org.
If Saturday is too soon for you, a separate organization, the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, has an Aloha Aina recycling driving coming up Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon at Niu Valley Middle School, 310 Halemaumau St.
Recycling partners scheduled to be on hand include T&N Computer Recycling for electronics including computers and gaming systems and Hawaii Hope for laptops, printer cartridges and toner cartridges, according to opala.org.
We’ve heard from numerous readers wanting to recycle e-waste, after their families acquired new computers, gaming systems and other electronics for Christmas.
Auwe
It is Jan. 3 before 8 a.m., and firecrackers are still going off in Pearl City … and they have been going off since before Halloween. This is getting absurd. — A reader
Mahalo
Sending a big mahalo to all who helped rescue our three dogs in Kapahulu on Wednesday. They were spooked by fireworks and pushed open the gate. Mahalo to neighbor Stanley, who rescued our black Labrador and brought her back to our home; mahalo to a kind woman who found our Shiba Inu four blocks away. She called and stayed with him until my daughter picked her up; mahalo to the special man who found our husky and drove her to the Hawaiian Humane Society and to the unselfish female volunteer and staff there. All of your kind acts kept our family pets away from danger. May you all be blessed throughout this new year. — Sandy M.
Mahalo
Mahalo to the person who found and turned in my Royal Hawaiian Heritage wedding ring Dec. 13 at Foodland Ala Moana. My husband gave it to me for our 25th anniversary in 1974, and since we’re going to celebrate our 70th anniversary in August, you can imagine how sad I was to have it slip off my finger! So I’m writing to thank you and to wish you a wonderful new year. People like you make our world a better place! — Aloha, Oli (Joy)
Mahalo
Mahalo to those who helped me up when I tripped and fell to the ground at Ala Moana Center at about noon Dec. 22. I was aching but OK. Hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year. — Mahalo, M.H.
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
