The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City Council on September 3, 2025.
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Sept. 3, 2025, 10 a.m.
Honolulu Hale
To: Honolulu City Council
Tommy Waters, Chair
Andria Tupola, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: Bill 50 (2025) — RELATING TO PROPERTY TAXATION
Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the Council,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 50 (2025), which would increase the real property tax homeowner exemption for those 64 years old and under from $120,000 to $140,000 beginning in fiscal 2028.
Increasing the homeowner exemption by $20,000 would save each homeowner $70 at the current residential tax rate of $3.50 per $1,000 in assessed value.[1]
The exemption was last increased in 2023, for tax years beginning with fiscal 2024.[2] Passing Bill 50 (2025) would head off possible increases in property values that could occur in the next two years.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] “Real Property Tax Rates for Tax Year July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025,” City and County of Honolulu, accessed July 3, 2025.
[2] Ordinance 23-33, Honolulu Records Collection, accessed July 3, 2025.
