Letter: New property tax would raise rents

Thank you to Choon James, Lawrence Boyd and Joseph Perez for their recent points on the proposal for an investment property tax for schools.

I own a second home that currently provides affordable shelter to a young military family. I bought that house as our first home almost 20 years ago and over time, just from it existing in Hawaii and nothing more, it would be eligible for the proposed state property tax. I was hoping this income would let my wife and I enjoy our retirement years with less worry.

I already pay the general excise and income taxes to the state and property tax to the county on the rent I receive. With regular repair and upkeep costs, I don’t see how I can avoid increasing the rent if this amendment goes through and takes another $16,000 dollars out of my retirement resources. On the one hand, our politicians cry about affordable housing and on the other they make it impossible to afford to provide it.

Mike Hanson

Mililani

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