fbpx

Budget & Spending

Kent says deleting slush fund is ‘the responsible thing to do’

It’s bad enough that Hawaii lawmakers have proposed exceeding the state’s legal spending by almost 25%, but they also appropriated $200 million to Gov. Josh Green for him to spend however he likes, and that’s not right, according to Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii executive vice president. Interviewed by

Read More →

Projected state surplus vanishing in face of planned higher spending

The Legislature’s proposed spending plan for fiscal 2024, if OK’d by the governor, could result in a state budget deficit of $45 million by fiscal 2028 The following is a news release issued by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii on May 10, 2023. _____________ HONOLULU, May 10, 2023 >> Hawaii’s projected state budget surplus

Read More →

Legislature on track to violate state’s legal spending limit

The following is a news release that was issued May 2, 2023, by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. _____________ The proposed budget is $668 million more than the governor requested and doesn’t even include almost 30 other measures that require funding HONOLULU, May 2, 2023 >> The state Legislature’s proposed budget for the

Read More →

Maui Mayor Bissen so far keeps promise to be financially prudent

The following commentary was published originally by The Maui News on April 25, 2023. _____________ At his inauguration, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen promised a prudent approach to the county’s finances. “There are two things you need to know about my views on fiscal responsibility,” he told the audience. “First, I

Read More →

Governor’s ‘remarkable’ tax bills still mostly alive

Not all of Gov. Josh Green’s proposed tax cuts survived lawmakers’ scrutiny this session, but enough are still alive to be optimistic.  Grassroot Institute Executive Vice President Joe Kent joined H. Hawaii Media radio host Johnny Miro on Sunday to discuss what remains of the “Green Affordability Plan,” which could

Read More →

Maui County should budget tax relief for all property owners

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Maui County Council Committee on Zoning on Budget, Finance and Economic Development on April 6, 2023. _____________ April 6, 2023 9 a.m. Maui County Council Chamber  To: Maui County Council Budget, Finance and Economic Development

Read More →

Memo to reluctant legislators: Hawaii can afford to cut taxes

Gov. Josh Green’s Green Affordability Plan is being hailed as one of the biggest tax reductions in the history of the state, if it goes through, and the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii sponsored two well-attended luncheon panel discussions last week to consider its implications. The first of the two events

Read More →

The honeymoon is over; what about our tax cuts?

Wednesday was Gov. Josh Green’s 100th day in office, and I think it’s safe to say his honeymoon period with voters and the Legislature has come to an end. When he took office in January, the state was looking at a budget surplus of about $2.6 billion, and there was a lot of excitement

Read More →

SB1158 SD1: Bill would revive pension spiking

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Feb. 28, 2023. ___________ Feb. 28, 2023 10 a.m. Conference Room 211 & Videoconference To: Senate Committee on Ways and Means        Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, Chair

Read More →

TESTIMONY: Hold off on Maui County pay raises?

The following testimony by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii was considered by the Maui County Salary Commission on Jan. 20, 2023. ______________ Jan. 20, 2023 9:00 a.m. Mayor’s Conference Room and Videoconference To: The Maui County Salary Commission       Chair, Scott Parker       Vice Chair, Grant

Read More →

Kent says deleting slush fund is ‘the responsible thing to do’

It’s bad enough that Hawaii lawmakers have proposed exceeding the state’s legal spending by almost 25%, but they also appropriated $200 million to Gov. Josh Green for him to spend however he likes, and that’s not right, according to Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii executive vice president. Interviewed by

Read More →

Projected state surplus vanishing in face of planned higher spending

The Legislature’s proposed spending plan for fiscal 2024, if OK’d by the governor, could result in a state budget deficit of $45 million by fiscal 2028 The following is a news release issued by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii on May 10, 2023. _____________ HONOLULU, May 10, 2023 >> Hawaii’s projected state budget surplus

Read More →

Legislature on track to violate state’s legal spending limit

The following is a news release that was issued May 2, 2023, by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. _____________ The proposed budget is $668 million more than the governor requested and doesn’t even include almost 30 other measures that require funding HONOLULU, May 2, 2023 >> The state Legislature’s proposed budget for the

Read More →

Maui Mayor Bissen so far keeps promise to be financially prudent

The following commentary was published originally by The Maui News on April 25, 2023. _____________ At his inauguration, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen promised a prudent approach to the county’s finances. “There are two things you need to know about my views on fiscal responsibility,” he told the audience. “First, I

Read More →

Governor’s ‘remarkable’ tax bills still mostly alive

Not all of Gov. Josh Green’s proposed tax cuts survived lawmakers’ scrutiny this session, but enough are still alive to be optimistic.  Grassroot Institute Executive Vice President Joe Kent joined H. Hawaii Media radio host Johnny Miro on Sunday to discuss what remains of the “Green Affordability Plan,” which could

Read More →

Maui County should budget tax relief for all property owners

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Maui County Council Committee on Zoning on Budget, Finance and Economic Development on April 6, 2023. _____________ April 6, 2023 9 a.m. Maui County Council Chamber  To: Maui County Council Budget, Finance and Economic Development

Read More →

Memo to reluctant legislators: Hawaii can afford to cut taxes

Gov. Josh Green’s Green Affordability Plan is being hailed as one of the biggest tax reductions in the history of the state, if it goes through, and the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii sponsored two well-attended luncheon panel discussions last week to consider its implications. The first of the two events

Read More →

The honeymoon is over; what about our tax cuts?

Wednesday was Gov. Josh Green’s 100th day in office, and I think it’s safe to say his honeymoon period with voters and the Legislature has come to an end. When he took office in January, the state was looking at a budget surplus of about $2.6 billion, and there was a lot of excitement

Read More →

SB1158 SD1: Bill would revive pension spiking

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Feb. 28, 2023. ___________ Feb. 28, 2023 10 a.m. Conference Room 211 & Videoconference To: Senate Committee on Ways and Means        Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, Chair

Read More →

TESTIMONY: Hold off on Maui County pay raises?

The following testimony by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii was considered by the Maui County Salary Commission on Jan. 20, 2023. ______________ Jan. 20, 2023 9:00 a.m. Mayor’s Conference Room and Videoconference To: The Maui County Salary Commission       Chair, Scott Parker       Vice Chair, Grant

Read More →