Keli’i Akina of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii outlined the financial problems Hawaii is facing, and the “best practices” that could help it recover, during the 60th — and first virtual — annual conference of the Hawaii Society of CPAs. Other speakers at the Nov. 20, 2020, event included Tracey Golden,
The following is a news release that was sent to all Hawaii media on Oct. 15, 2020. ______________ HONOLULU, Oct. 15, 2020 >> Hawaii’s unfunded liabilities for infrastructure and public health benefits have increased so far this year to $97 billion, according to the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. That’s $9
This article was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat on Sept. 21, 2020. ______________ Faced with a $2.3 billion budget shortfall caused by Hawaii’s coronavirus lockdowns, Gov. David Ige on July 17 suspended the state’s required fiscal 2021 payment of $388 million to the government employees’ health benefits fund. It was a desperate move
The following is a letter to the editor that was published by Lahaina News on July 23, 2020. __________ Maui lawmakers should be congratulated for trimming this year’s county budget to $1 million less than the previous year. It was only a 0.1 percent cut, but still it demonstrates that
“How to balance Hawaii’s budget” was the topic of Keli’i Akina’s “Hawaii Together” episode, Monday, June 22, 2020, on the ThinkTech Hawaii network. The special guest was Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Akina is president and CEO of the institute, which that very day had submitted
Keli’i Akina was interviewed Monday, June 22, 2020, by reporter Paul Drewes of KITV4 Island News about the Legislature’s options for balancing the state budget. Drewes also mentioned the new online tool from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii that lets individuals try to balance the budget themselves. The tool can
The following is testimony submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Hawaii Senate Committee on Means and Ways on Monday, June 22, 2020. ______________ To: Committee on Ways and Means Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair Sen. Gil S. C. Keith-Agaran, Vice chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
This morning I balanced the state budget. It didn’t even take that long; just a few quick clicks and Hawaii went from a $1.4 billion deficit to a modest surplus, with some rainy day money set aside in case of emergency. Of course, I had a few advantages that state
The following is a news release that was issued by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii on June 19, 2020. _______________ The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii tool shows 15% cuts across the board and delaying salary increases would be enough to erase the deficit HONOLULU, June 19, 2020 >> Hawaii citizens now can try their hand
Hawaii lawmakers are facing a “new normal” of significantly reduced tax revenues. In response, they should reduce long-term expenses, such as payroll expenses and department budgets, instead of only short-term expenses, such as one-time projects or more borrowing, if they wish to keep their spending in line with their new
Keli’i Akina of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii outlined the financial problems Hawaii is facing, and the “best practices” that could help it recover, during the 60th — and first virtual — annual conference of the Hawaii Society of CPAs. Other speakers at the Nov. 20, 2020, event included Tracey Golden,
The following is a news release that was sent to all Hawaii media on Oct. 15, 2020. ______________ HONOLULU, Oct. 15, 2020 >> Hawaii’s unfunded liabilities for infrastructure and public health benefits have increased so far this year to $97 billion, according to the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. That’s $9
This article was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat on Sept. 21, 2020. ______________ Faced with a $2.3 billion budget shortfall caused by Hawaii’s coronavirus lockdowns, Gov. David Ige on July 17 suspended the state’s required fiscal 2021 payment of $388 million to the government employees’ health benefits fund. It was a desperate move
The following is a letter to the editor that was published by Lahaina News on July 23, 2020. __________ Maui lawmakers should be congratulated for trimming this year’s county budget to $1 million less than the previous year. It was only a 0.1 percent cut, but still it demonstrates that
“How to balance Hawaii’s budget” was the topic of Keli’i Akina’s “Hawaii Together” episode, Monday, June 22, 2020, on the ThinkTech Hawaii network. The special guest was Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Akina is president and CEO of the institute, which that very day had submitted
Keli’i Akina was interviewed Monday, June 22, 2020, by reporter Paul Drewes of KITV4 Island News about the Legislature’s options for balancing the state budget. Drewes also mentioned the new online tool from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii that lets individuals try to balance the budget themselves. The tool can
The following is testimony submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Hawaii Senate Committee on Means and Ways on Monday, June 22, 2020. ______________ To: Committee on Ways and Means Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair Sen. Gil S. C. Keith-Agaran, Vice chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
This morning I balanced the state budget. It didn’t even take that long; just a few quick clicks and Hawaii went from a $1.4 billion deficit to a modest surplus, with some rainy day money set aside in case of emergency. Of course, I had a few advantages that state
The following is a news release that was issued by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii on June 19, 2020. _______________ The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii tool shows 15% cuts across the board and delaying salary increases would be enough to erase the deficit HONOLULU, June 19, 2020 >> Hawaii citizens now can try their hand
Hawaii lawmakers are facing a “new normal” of significantly reduced tax revenues. In response, they should reduce long-term expenses, such as payroll expenses and department budgets, instead of only short-term expenses, such as one-time projects or more borrowing, if they wish to keep their spending in line with their new
To the Hawaii Legislature:
Hawaii families face skyrocketing healthcare costs and a shortage of doctors. Exempting medical services from Hawaii’s general excise tax would result in millions of dollars in savings for residents and help bring doctors back.
