Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 82° Today's Paper


Letter: City property tax doesn’t cover schools, so lower it

How many of us believe we are fortunate that we pay the lowest property tax in the nation (“Oahu’s property taxes low, fund array of needs,” Star- Advertiser, Letters, Jan 1.)? Why is that?

It boils down to who covers the cost of education — is it the state or the city? Hawaii is the only state among the 50 states to have the state government cover the cost of education. All other 49 municipalities cover the cost of education. That is the reason it seems like we pay low property taxes. If the city took over the cost of education, our property tax would be high as the other states.

My question is: Why can’t the rate be lowered with so many thousands of homes being built to add to the property tax base?

Elayne Funakoshi

Pearl City


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