Taxes and Spending

October 2008

The Real Cost of the Rail GET Increase

by

In April 2005 when state lawmakers debated giving the City and County of Honolulu the option to add a 0.5% surcharge to the state's four percent general excise tax (GET) for 15 years in order to pay for its transit project, Hawaii was a much different place. The 0.5% surcharge, a 12.5% increase to the GET rate, was approved without any tax relief to lower income residents and without an actual price tag for the transit project. (more)

see comments

Taxes and Spending

October 2008

What Can Bring Increased Accountability to Hawaii Government?

The ConCon Can

by Pearl Hahn

The 1978 Constitutional Convention illustrated the impact 102 Hawaii citizens could have in shaping the state. Most of the delegates to the convention were everyday people of different backgrounds and political affiliations, coming together not in pursuit of selfish interests but with a common commitment to exercise their right to be heard. It was the start of political careers for some, such as future governor John Waihee and future Honolulu mayor Jeremy Harris, and a high note in the long volunteer service career of then civil servant Bill Paty and public interest attorney William Burgess. Thirty years later, we are presented with the same opportunity in a time of new predicaments and concerns. (more)

see comments