Leadership on the Mauna
Leadership entails not only planning for possible obstructions to your chosen plan of action, but also having the resolve to follow through with your plan.
Soft on crime – because of the money
In the news recently was a stunning announcement by Justin Kollar, who is the Kauai County prosecutor. State law says that for folks driving without a license or driving without insurance, heavier fines and more jail time apply to repeat offenders.
Withholding could be the root of all evil
Withholding is making someone who isn’t liable for tax, but who pays money to someone who is, responsible for collecting and paying the tax to the government. Employers, for example, must withhold federal and state income taxes out of wages paid to their employees.
The Special Land and Development Fund
In this week’s spotlight is the Special Land and Development Fund or SLDF, which is administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). Into that fund goes all land rents the State receives for land that is either leased or used under a revocable permit (such as those used by airport or harbor-based businesses).
The Special Land and Development Fund
In this week’s spotlight is the Special Land and Development Fund or SLDF, which is administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). Into that fund goes all land rents the State receives for land that is either leased or used under a revocable permit (such as those used by airport or harbor-based businesses).
Resort fees designed to pay for amenities
It’s July 2019, and already we are starting to see laws passed in the 2019 Legislature take effect.
Work together to form the best of our civilized society
Every so often, the news reports on people who deny the legitimacy of the government we have here in Hawaii. “We’re not subject to those laws,” they say, “so we don’t have to follow rules or pay taxes.” It pains me to read stories of people who lost their homes after being told that they didn’t have to pay back their mortgages because the laws under which they were made were invalid in Hawaii.
The Honolulu proposal to tax ‘ghost homes’
The Hawaii State Tax Watch Doggie is discussing a new Honolulu property tax proposal with his wife, the consummate researcher.
Across the four counties, it’s the economy, stupid
“It’s the economy, stupid,” is a catchphrase made famous by Bill Clinton when he ran for president in 1992 and won.
HI-5: The leakage hasn’t stopped yet
Just three months ago, the Hawaii State Auditor released the latest in a series of reports over the years on the Hawaii Deposit Beverage Container Program, known as HI-5.
DOE, please fork over that general ledger
The Hawaii State Tax Watch Doggie’s son has come home from school, and today he has a few more questions than usual.
Shining a bright light on state revenue estimates
At the Legislature, I often hear legislators considering proposed tax legislation ask our state Department of Taxation (DOTAX) how much money a certain proposal would bring in (if it’s a “revenue-raiser”) or cost (if it’s a tax credit or exemption).
The ‘rail skim’ lawsuit: We lost the battle, taxpayers won the war
A long time ago, in October 2015 to be more precise, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii sued the state. Why? Because at the time, the state was skimming 10 cents off every dollar that was being collected for rail, and it plopped the money into the state’s general fund, where it was spent on everything but rail.
Gut-n-Replace 2019
This week we’ll discuss a couple of examples from this legislative session of the controversial but commonly used technique called “Gut and Replace” where a bill is amended so much that it looks nothing like its former self.
‘Tension’ continues between lawmakers, judges
When we learn about our three branches of government, we’re usually told that the legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch carries them out, and the judiciary branch interprets them. Each branch serves as a check and balance on the other two.
The cost of carbon credits rises and falls
Today I have some help from the Hawaii State Watch Doggie’s wife, who is a passionate researcher. Those who know them know who’s the brains in their family!
OHA’s LLCs: The noose is tightening, with legislation, court action
Our Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) formed some limited liability companies (LLCs) a while ago and dropped significant assets into them, including some 1,875 acres in Waimea Valley on Oahu that were conveyed to Hi‘ipaka LLC in 2007.
HIDOE achieves success with ‘job order contracting’
We’ve written a lot about the Hawaii State Watch Doggie.
Blankety Blank, this is some whopper of a bill
The story you are about to read is true. The names have not been changed to protect the innocent. This is the city: Honolulu, Hawaii. I live here. I’m a doggie. The suspect is Blankety Blank.
Revenue-raisers already sent to the governor
We’ve previously warned that our Legislature has a dogged focus on new taxes — “ARF! Don’t make fun of me like that!”