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Cost of Government Committee Presentation Cost of the Upcountry Meter Priority List to Maui County & Methods to Eliminate the List June 14, 2012 Richard H. Pohle PH.D.
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Time Consuming, Exorbitant Exactions Reduce Revenue: One Example Subdivide Crater Rd 3.5A, R-0.5 Parcel to 3 Parcels 1985 Requires: Hold Harmless Letter and 380 feet of 6” line 2010 Requires: 120,000 gallon water tank; 2400 feet, 8” line 1985 Parcel not subdivided: Dedicated to Agriculture Real estate taxes over 25 years: ~ $300/yr = $7,500 Neighboring parcel ~ $1500/yr: x 3 x 25yr = $112,000 Cost to Government on this one parcel: > $100,000 Crater Road Water Infrastructure was not improved
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Upcountry Water Meter Priority List Halts All Development Kula moratorium was replaced by date based priority list Applies to Upcountry only (discrimination is partly justified) “On March 16, 1993, the upcountry water system was found to have insufficient water supply…” This is FALSE. New water sources are available but expensive Land use (housing vs. farming) cannot be considered List clogged by those not ready but holding a place in line List has not advanced (from 2008 – 2011: up one place) Why? Available new water sources are not developed
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Meter Priority List Reduces County Revenue and Increases Human Costs Loss of tax revenue from economic activity: $10 M/year within a decade. (Loss is cumulative) Cost to investors in ongoing projects: $1 M/year for a project of 100 to 150 units Loss of exaction fees for source development : $2 M/ 100 housing units not built Cost if a deep drought occurs: $10M Insurance costs: TBD (Rates depend on Fire Flow) Frustration, bankruptcy, immorality, emigration: ??? Legal dangers: Priceless. Could bankrupt County
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Meter Priority List Affects Property Use. After 20 years Without Remedy - A Taking? Meter awards, not zoning, are used to control Upcountry growth Class Action Suit by those affected (unequal treatment) Individual exaction fee unjustifiably high Developers are treated unequally Violates Hawaii State water policy (Rich vs. Poor)
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Elimination of the List is Possible Pookela and Piiholo South Wells together could satisfy the entire List of 1450 names, 2600 meters Buy these or equivalent new water sources ASAP Piihoho South Well (1.78Mg/d) has been offered for $2.6 M as is or $3.7 M turn key into Upcountry system Flume repairs and reservoirs do not advance List What if entire List went on line? ~25% usage increase and $16 M new revenue County policy changes would mitigate the effects of List repeal
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Council Policy Affects List Repeal Clearly state that meters will be given when needed Use rate structure to encourage conservation Implement an escalating rate structure above a baseline Allow Mayor to declare a drought and initiate drought rates Implement exaction fees for source and infrastructure Allow exaction fees to reflect usage & put in mortgage Limit Fire Flow fees to be commensurate w/project Charge Upcountry what it costs to pump water uphill Stop subsidizing Upcountry water usage
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Administration Policy Affects List Repeal Use the DWS Waiver Power in MCC 14.13 to eliminate obvious unreasonable hardships Use realistic water usage estimates depending on meter use. People need ~20g/day/person. Recognize that people use less water than farmer and that people can afford to pay their way but farms need subsidies Allow those on the List to change their meter requests without jeopardizing their List position
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Summary: Meter List Has a High Cost It Can and Should be Repealed Meter List has halted Upcountry economic and infrastructure development. 3 Ways to repeal it Slow walk Upcountry. Develop A&B projects and Haiku wells for Central Maui water Develop Upcountry without allowing private funding to supplement public project costs Mayor and Council work together. Council sets policy & Mayor exercises his executive power Meter List may be one manifestation of the development vs. anti-development conflict
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