With cloudy state finances, Hawaiʻi’s ‘rainy day’ fund held for future rainy day
“You have a rainy day fund, and it’s supposed to be used for emergencies,” said Tom Yamachika, president of the nonprofit Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi. “You’ve got an emergency.”
Rethinking Hawaiʻi’s conveyance tax
Hawaiʻi stands at the critical decision point in investing in our housing needs: The enactment of HB2364 holds the promise of a brighter, more inclusive future for all residents.
A proposed constitutional amendment would let Hawaiʻi use property taxes to fund schools
The Legislature passed a similar bill in 2018, but the state Supreme Court invalidated the ballot measure for using vague and unclear language.
Rebalance Hawaiʻi’s upside-down tax code to achieve prosperity for all
We are the third-worst state when it comes to taxing struggling working families.
New report on cycle of poverty in Hawaiʻi urges state lawmakers to find solutions
Solutions include substantially increasing public financing of affordable housing, as well as the creation of a state level child tax credit.
Rising prices, increasing poverty, slowing job growth: Hawaiʻi’s economy faces grim times
Among those facing higher costs are Oʻahu utility customers whose October bills could show more cost increases on top of a dramatic rise over the past year.
Blueprint for Hawaiʻi housing? UH project for students and faculty is going up at relatively little cost
A Hawaiʻi lawmaker says the public private housing partnership could be a model for state-owned affordable rentals.
Thousands of houses are empty on Maui. Would higher taxes change that?
An estimated 15,000 housing units—about 1 in 5 throughout all of Maui County—are vacant, according to 2020 census estimates.
Working class tax credit still alive
After taking a long, winding path through the Legislature, a bill making the Earned Income Tax Credit permanent and refundable has made it through both the House and the Senate, though disagreements over amendments mean that the bill will now go before a conference committee.
State tax bill could have major impact on Kauaʻi
A bill in the state legislature could potentially mean more money in the pockets of working families on Kauaʻi.
Legislators consider extending income tax credit for struggling families
Every dollar a tax filer gets from the EITC generates another $1.24 in economic activity. This type of tax refund can act as an economic stimulus for the state.
How the ‘Build Back Better’ plan saves money and lives
The answer lies in an expansion of the strategy that held the line against poverty in 2020 and that helped America out of the Great Depression.
A cautious legislature, locked in the capitol, played it safe
Critics hoped the pandemic would be the catalyst for significant changes to address longterm problems facing Hawaiʻi. But the budget shortfall dominated the 2021 session.
Hawaiʻi lawmakers finish session after huge federal aid boost
The pandemic wouldn’t have hurt nearly as much if Hawaiʻi residents were making wages that paid enough to cover their basic needs.
Lawmakers should pass tax bills to fix our upside-down tax system
Minimum wage earners should not be paying a higher percentage in taxes than those at the top.
Economic recovery should focus on working families
And Hawaiʻi’s lawmakers should pass legislation that supports workers’ well-being.
Should I stay or should I go? The lack of affordable housing in Hawaiʻi
The cost of living in Hawaiʻi continues to rise, most notably due to the lack of affordable housing. How do we find a feasible solution?
Here’s how tax increases are shaking out in the Hawaiʻi legislature
Senators moved to raise income taxes on high earners, and the House passed capital gains and inheritance tax increases.
Sugary drink taxes can dismantle systemic inequities by giving back to communities
When funds are reinvested back into the most impacted communities, these taxes help prevent future harm, and give people from those communities a better shot at succeeding and thriving.
Furloughs likely to worsen delays of unemployment, Medicaid and SNAP claims
Governor Ige’s plan to furlough state workers could further increase the already-maddening length of time it takes to process critical services like unemployment.