Maui taxes [IMPORTANT - Proposal to RAISE Property Tax - AGAIN!]

[DavidnRobin]

Seriously... that is how you read that?

 

[jarta]

Seriously... that is how you read that?

Clarity in communication is desirable. What's the second "that?"

Is it the Supreme Court opinion or your saying "I can't believe it is even legal..." in response to Lisa's belief that Maui County may be the only taxing authority that has a timeshare category?

Last month's linked article about a US Supreme Court opinion is just the Court's latest exposition of the principles which govern legal analysis of a claim that a tax is illegal because it violates the Equal Protection clause. Facts concerning the particular tax classification do not affect the principles of Equal Protection analysis used by the Court. (Sort of like the principles of analysis used by scientists to reach a conclusion in the lab?) The article states:

"The majority held that the Indianapolis program satisfied the rational basis requirement under the 14th Amendment: "This Court has long held that 'a classification neither involving fundamental rights nor proceeding along suspect lines ... cannot run afoul of the Equal Protection Clause if there is a rational relationship between the disparity of treatment and some legitimate governmental purpose.'" The facts of the case involved a City tax for a new sanitation project that could be paid in a lump sum or over 20 years. The taxpayers who paid the lump sum sued to at least get back a portion of what they paid when the tax was abolished after 4 years and those who paid in installments got completely off the hook for the last 16. The claim that an illegal tax classification affecting Equal Protection was created when the tax was abolished was rejected by both the Indiana Supreme Court and, last month, the SCOTUS.

I thought your response to Lisa's belief that Maui's classification was unique ("I can't believe it is even legal ...") involved a claim of denial of Equal Protection in taxation. If there was another basis to the claim that I am missing, just post it.

Finally, I did not post that a claim against Maui's tax classification would fail. I pointed out that these types of cases rarely are winners because the purpose of any tax ("we need the money") usually takes precedence. Salty

 

[Pmuppet]

Here we go again. The Mayor of Maui has proposed a 7 percent increase in prop taxes for time share on Maui. This would take the rate from 15.00 to 16.50. This would be a combined total of 15 percent increase over the last two years. If you own a house in Maui the rate is 6.00. This is ridiculous. Once again the Mayor is choosing to alienate time share holders thinking they are an easy target. I would suggest we all make our concerns heard before the next council meeting on April 11th. Contact info can be found here www.ardaroc.org and click on Maui tax alert. I know that some will say it does no good to voice your opinion, I respectfully disagree. Last year there was a lot of good input and I believe it had an impact on the council. Granted tax went up but considerably less than what they were initially proposing. If we dont do anything we can be guaranteed of the outcome.

Exactly what is wrong with this country, imo. Everyone is trying to find convenient methods to tax the next guy instead of everyone paying their fair share.

Not smart to attack tourist dollars are these are critical to the health of hawaii.

But here in seattle, we taxed hotels and rental cars to fund the stadium the seahawks play in. And people wonder why Boeing HC left the state when our government is so anti business....

 

[DavidnRobin]

Seriously... that is how you read that?

Meaning - I know it is legal, but I cannot believe that it is...
(there are many examples of this in the world - in case you hadn't noticed. I would think someone as smart as yourself would be able to figure this out.)

Like... I cannot believe you still pick apart people's posts and their lack of complete and absolute clarity (based on multiple responses to you about this), but I understand that you have the legal right to do so...