After seeing his property tax bill more than double in four years, retired Kane'ohe homeowner Myron Daniels is looking for tax relief from the city.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann understands that concern and said yesterday he wants to pursue a relief package that would give a "fair and equitable" tax break to more residents.

But the mayor said he's not ready to commit to reducing property tax rates. He plans to work with the City Council to find ways to ease the tax burden in what he sees as a balancing act. One proposal, making the county tax credit available to more homeowners, will be taken up today by the council budget committee.

Daniels, 76, is among an estimated 100,000 property owners who are receiving tax bills this month and seeing what O'ahu's soaring property values — assessments are up as much as 46 percent in some areas — means for them.

Even though Daniels gets a senior-citizens tax credit, he worries because the tax bill is taking a bigger bite out of his fixed income.

"We're retired. We've got to watch the nickels and dimes and dollars," he said.

Tax assessments go out to property owners each December, then the City Council sets the rates by May or June each year.

Even though the property tax rates have remained the same in recent years, skyrocketing values have pushed up the bills.

Daniels bought his Ha'iku Village house in 1969 for $40,000, paid another $40,000 in 1986 for the land and now finds himself owning a five-bedroom, two-bath home valued at $700,000.

Since 2002, the property tax bill for his 9,400-square-foot home has gone from $736 to $1,627. Daniels complains that the soaring values of homes that sell in his neighborhood unfairly push up the value and taxes for residents like him who have no intention of selling.

"The people who really should get taxed is the people who sell the home," Daniels said. He suggested that people who sell their homes could pay a higher rate than those who remain for years.

Daniels understands that people may think his tax bill is small compared to his property value. But, he said, "It doesn't do me any good because I'm not going to borrow money."

City assistant real property administrator Robert Magota said about 100,000 property owners received tax bills this month.

Although 268,347 assessments went out in December, most people pay their property taxes and insurance through their mortgage companies. So, they get news of an increase in their monthly payments when the lenders notify customers. People who pay their bills directly — such as those who have paid off their homes — get the twice-a-year bills.

City figures show the total assessed value of the island's residential properties shot up 26 percent in a year, meaning most homeowners' tax bills rose.

On O'ahu, the median sale price for a single-family home was $593,300 in June, a 23 percent increase from a year earlier.

Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, who heads the City Council budget committee, will hold a meeting this morning to discuss a proposed tax credit that could be available to more homeowners by raising the amount of income allowed for those seeking a break.

Magota said the latest round of tax bills went out July 20 and that bill will be due Aug. 22, two days after the normal Aug. 20 deadline because it falls on a Saturday.

Magota said the city hears from property owners peeved about their bills each year, both when the assessments go out and when the bills show up.

"We're getting an increase in phone calls but it's not overwhelming," Magota said. "It's been up since the market started going up a few years ago."