Well, it looks like the Hawaii State Watch Doggie has woken up from his nap. A: Hey! Keeping watch is hard work! Q: Undoubtedly. So what are you reading there?
TAXWatch: Creativity Abounds at our Legislature, Pt. 2
This week, we are continuing our coverage of creative tax-related bills at our legislature. The Hawaii State Tax Watch Doggie is taking a nap at the moment so I’ll continue
TAXWatch: Creativity Abounds at our Legislature
This year, our legislature once again is poised to consider revenue raising – namely, taxes in new and creative ways. For a different perspective on the issue, we’re asking the Hawaii
TAXWatch: DOE’s Repair Backlog Is How Much Again?
In a budget briefing at the legislature at about this time last year, Department of Education officials reported that their backlog of repair and maintenance jobs was $293 million, and
TAXWatch: Zero-Based Budgeting
Last week, we spent some time on “variance reports,” which is how our state government agencies report differences in position count and spending from one year to the next. The
TAXWatch: So Did You Meet Your Goals This Year? – Um, We Dunno
Although our legislature hasn’t opened yet, legislators are at work already. The money committees, for example, have started quizzing the various executive departments on their budget requests for the upcoming
TAXWatch: No, Killing a Special Fund Doesn’t Kill People
Recently, the State Auditor released Report No. 18-19, which reviewed special funds, trust funds, and trust accounts of our Department of Land and Natural Resources. Under law, the Auditor is
TAXWatch: Carbon Tax – Will You Fiddle While Paris Burns?
On November 28, our state Climate Commission, consisting of 22 county and state government officials, issued a press release affirming that it supports a carbon tax “to achieve Hawaii’s ambitious
TAXWatch: It’s Real Property Because We Said So!
Today we look at a case now pending in the Hawaii Supreme Court that may give us some insight on county real property taxes and their limits. Once upon a
TAXWatch: Take-Aways from the ‘Con-Am’ Argument
On October 18, 2018, the Supreme Court of Hawaii held oral argument on a petition by the four counties to invalidate the “Con-Am,” namely the constitutional amendment ballot measure that