Trim government ADVERTISING Trim government Mike Kaleikini of the (Hawaii Island) Chamber of Commerce made some good points in his column in Thursday’s Tribune-Herald (“County budget should be cut,” Their View). Instead of always raising taxes, why not consider cutting
Trim government
Mike Kaleikini of the (Hawaii Island) Chamber of Commerce made some good points in his column in Thursday’s Tribune-Herald (“County budget should be cut,” Their View).
Instead of always raising taxes, why not consider cutting spending for a change? Assessments are up, so tax revenue is up. That should be enough.
If that’s not enough, the mayor needs to reduce the workforce. That’s what anyone in the private sector would do to stay in business.
Layoffs? Furloughs? Do what you need to do, but don’t stick it to the rest of us. Many of us are on fixed incomes or struggle to get by.
As a recent letter writer pointed out, the county doesn’t work to support us; we work to support it! That’s completely backward!
A. Yamamoto
Hilo
More taxes?
It’s apparent our taxes are going to be raised once again, but I wonder if there are not better sources for additional county revenue.
One aspect worth studying is why every other vehicle on the road carries a county insignia, and why do we need so many?
But one of the real issues, I think, is our general excise tax and transient accommodations tax, and why they mostly go to the state rather than the county of origin.
Possibly, if our counties’ mayors devoted more effort to recapturing this lost revenue, they wouldn’t need to keep taxing the little guy.
Come on, mayors, stand up and fight.
Gary Turner
Pahoa
Mahalo, police
May 14-21 has been designated as National Police Week this year.
This is a time we set aside to honor the memory of those officers who have fallen in the line of duty, as well as to express our community’s appreciation for the sacrifices all law enforcement officers and their families make in order to serve and protect our community.
The past couple of years have seen an increase in violent incidents and a rise in officer-involved shootings on the Big Island. Our sworn officers find themselves in increasingly dangerous situations when they put on their uniforms and leave their homes and families.
They and their families live with two great fears every day — that they might lose their life or have to take a life. Don’t be quick to judge them because they do their best with a very demanding job.
Please take some time this week to visit your nearest police station and let them know how much you appreciate their hard work.
If you personally know a police officer, do something special for them this week. They have a very difficult job dealing with the worst of our society on a daily basis to keep us safe.
Please let them know their efforts are not in vain and their community appreciates and supports them.
Renee Godoy
Chaplain coordinator,
Hawaii Police Department
