“One step forward and one step back” is how Ted Kefalas of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii characterized the Legislature’s actions toward Hawaii businesses this year during an interview on Sunday with host Johnny Miro on the H. Hawaii Media radio network. Kefalas, the Institute’s director of strategic campaigns, said
Honolulu’s rail project has faced problems for years — including never-ending delays and its ever-ballooning multibillion-dollar price tag. But a new consequence seems to have emerged: The city recently saw its bond rating downgraded by one of the country’s major bond-rating agencies. Speaking on Sunday with H. Hawaii Media radio
Making Hawaii’s county property tax systems more simple is the best way Hawaii’s counties can provide tax relief. That was the message that Jonathan Helton, policy researcher with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, brought earlier this month to the “Kaua’i Soapbox” radio program on KKCR FM — and Kauai County Chair Mel
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
The following commentary was originally published in Honolulu Civil Beat on Friday, April 7, 2023. _____________ In 2012, Honolulu officials thought they could protect the county’s credit rating by not counting bond issues for the Honolulu rail in the county’s “debt affordability limit.” But they were wrong. In early February,
The following commentary was originally published in The Garden Island on Saturday, April 8, 2023. _____________ It’s budget season on the County of Kaua‘i, which means county lawmakers have been busy haggling over what to fund and what to cut in Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami’s proposed $402 million budget. The
Is there relief for rising property taxes on Oahu? That was the question posed to guests on the March 23 edition of PBS Hawaii’s “Insights” program, which included Keli‘i Akina, president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Other panelists were Honolulu City Councilmember “Uncle” Calvin Say; Andy Kawano,
Gov. Josh Green’s proposed $50 “visitor impact” fee to be levied on every tourist coming to Hawaii could have many unintended consequences — including how tourists spend their money here, according to Malia Hill, policy director for Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Hill spoke about the governor’s measure, SB304 SD2, this
County lawmakers haven’t decided yet how to deal with property tax hikes that are expected to result from higher property assessments across the state, but relief measures such as rate cuts, tax credits and homeowner exemption increases seem to be on the table. Jonathan Helton, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii policy
The following commentary was published originally in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on March 7, 2023. __________ A new federal “Yes In My Backyard” grant program, spearheaded by Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, deserves kudos for targeting barriers to new housing. The purpose of the program, enacted in December as a part
“One step forward and one step back” is how Ted Kefalas of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii characterized the Legislature’s actions toward Hawaii businesses this year during an interview on Sunday with host Johnny Miro on the H. Hawaii Media radio network. Kefalas, the Institute’s director of strategic campaigns, said
Honolulu’s rail project has faced problems for years — including never-ending delays and its ever-ballooning multibillion-dollar price tag. But a new consequence seems to have emerged: The city recently saw its bond rating downgraded by one of the country’s major bond-rating agencies. Speaking on Sunday with H. Hawaii Media radio
Making Hawaii’s county property tax systems more simple is the best way Hawaii’s counties can provide tax relief. That was the message that Jonathan Helton, policy researcher with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, brought earlier this month to the “Kaua’i Soapbox” radio program on KKCR FM — and Kauai County Chair Mel
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
The following commentary was originally published in Honolulu Civil Beat on Friday, April 7, 2023. _____________ In 2012, Honolulu officials thought they could protect the county’s credit rating by not counting bond issues for the Honolulu rail in the county’s “debt affordability limit.” But they were wrong. In early February,
The following commentary was originally published in The Garden Island on Saturday, April 8, 2023. _____________ It’s budget season on the County of Kaua‘i, which means county lawmakers have been busy haggling over what to fund and what to cut in Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami’s proposed $402 million budget. The
Is there relief for rising property taxes on Oahu? That was the question posed to guests on the March 23 edition of PBS Hawaii’s “Insights” program, which included Keli‘i Akina, president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Other panelists were Honolulu City Councilmember “Uncle” Calvin Say; Andy Kawano,
Gov. Josh Green’s proposed $50 “visitor impact” fee to be levied on every tourist coming to Hawaii could have many unintended consequences — including how tourists spend their money here, according to Malia Hill, policy director for Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Hill spoke about the governor’s measure, SB304 SD2, this
County lawmakers haven’t decided yet how to deal with property tax hikes that are expected to result from higher property assessments across the state, but relief measures such as rate cuts, tax credits and homeowner exemption increases seem to be on the table. Jonathan Helton, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii policy
The following commentary was published originally in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on March 7, 2023. __________ A new federal “Yes In My Backyard” grant program, spearheaded by Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, deserves kudos for targeting barriers to new housing. The purpose of the program, enacted in December as a part
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