TAX MAN: O‘ahu follows Kaua‘i in offering rent, utilities relief
We’ve recently found out that the City & County of Honolulu is going to take 10,000 applications from vulnerable people and families who need help paying rent or utility bills.
TAX MAN: Enjoying your Maui Resort Condo? Now pay up!
Some taxpayers on Maui are getting a nasty surprise this year because they didn’t do anything, and their real property tax rate doubled.
A government of (suspended) laws, not men
John Adams, later to become the second President of the United States, enshrined the concept of “a government of laws, not of men,” in the Massachusetts state constitution of 1780. Those words were supposed to convey a fundamental idea: Government should be based on clearly written laws, and not on the unpredictable will of one or even a few people.
Teacher payments and the ‘Me Too’ syndrome
This week, we focus on House Bill 613, another bill that has undergone radical metamorphosis while in our Legislature.
General Excise Exemptions to be shut off for two years?
House Bill 58, the “Frankenbill” that we wrote about before, has cleared the Legislature and is on the Governor’s desk waiting to become law. It suspends some General Excise Tax (GET) exemptions in calendar years 2022 to 2023. In this article we’ll explain some of them and who is likely to be affected.
State/federal changes in income tax coming
Income tax is a complicated enough subject already.
Counties, the TAT is now your problem too!
For many years, the counties and the state have been bickering about how much support from the state’s transient accommodations tax (TAT) they should get to help fund county infrastructure.
Report appears to be ‘whack job’ on state auditor
Last week we wrote about an unflattering report on the state auditor released by a working group convened by the state House speaker’s office.
YAMACHIKA: State Auditor facing a whack job
The House Speaker’s office recently released an unflattering report on the State Auditor. It faulted the Auditor’s Office for appointing executives without proper experience and said the move contributed to “delays and untimely reports,” and other actions that were “not in complete compliance” with the provisions of the Hawai’i Constitution governing that office.
YAMACHIKA: The dreaded Bride of Frankenbill rises again
We wrote last week about House Bill 58, a “Frankenbill” made from bits and pieces of other bills. By putting those pieces into a bill that is still alive at the Legislature, those pieces are given new life.
Beware the return of the Frankenbill!
Most of us have heard of “Frankenstein,” a novel written in 1818 by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. The story’s protagonist, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, created a creature by assembling bits and pieces from cadavers and then bringing it to life using some unexplained method. (Mad scientists have to have their trade secrets!)
Revisiting the ‘Maintenance of Effort’ bill
A little more than a month ago, we ranted on about Senate Bill 815, the “maintenance of effort” bill, that would ensure funding for the Department of Education (DOE).
Soaking the rich would have negative consequences
In the couple of weeks before the Legislature’s “First Decking” deadline, legislators were hearing tax-related bills, not only the “Enola Gay” bill we discussed last week.
The Enola Gay (bill) has left the hangar
What we have been seeing at the Legislature in terms of bills proposing new taxes has been relatively tame.
‘Maintenance of effort’ bills benefit education
At the top of my list of pending legislation this week is the “maintenance of effort” bill, House Bill 611 and Senate Bill 815.
More creative thought needed at our Legislature
This week, we continue coverage of our legislature by highlighting some of the more unusual or remarkable tax bills being considered. We focus on bills that not only have been introduced, but that have gotten a hearing before a legislative committee and are actively moving toward enactment.
Don’t try to read state legislators’ minds
In the beginning of February each year, the Japanese celebrate the Setsubun festival. The festivities typically include roasted beans. Family members throw them out the door, or start pelting one of their own members who is dressed up like a demon, to represent driving out the bad luck and welcoming in the good luck.
Here is the grim reality of unemployment taxes
In this space, we have been doing a lot of guessing on possible legislative proposals. We will find out for sure what they are on or before January 25, the date of Governor Ige’s State of the State address.
More taxes on the rich – but guess what, you’re rich
On January 12, Governor Ige’s Chief of Staff and former Director of Taxation Linda Chu Takayama told the House Finance Committee a little more about the revenue enhancement measures (tax hikes) that the Administration is going to propose.
‘Barreling’ toward an inevitable tax hike
On January 5, State Director of Finance Craig Hirai was (kind of) answering questions before the House Finance Committee on the Administration’s budget.