Maui has figured out a way to bleed cash from its budget very quickly. It’s called a “Charter Crisis.” It pits one part of government against another one. Lawyers then are needed to represent one or both warring parties, and … Read More
The Hawaii State Tax Watch Doggie at long last has made his son put down his smartphone. Son: Dad, I’m a little old for bedtime stories. Doggie: Hush and listen! And don’t fall asleep on me, darn it! Two horses … Read More
This week we look at the State Auditor’s recent follow-up report, Report No. 19-14, on the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production income tax credit. It notes that when the Auditor’s office previously took up the issue, in Report … Read More
In the news recently was a story about business and licensing fees actually going down. These fees were imposed by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). The money from those fees was funneled to special funds that were … Read More
Once upon a time, there was a big bank called Bank of America. It wanted to try doing business in Hawaii, since it was already in many of the other western states, so it reached a deal to buy Honolulu … Read More
The cost of having four walls and a roof over your head in Honolulu has been staggeringly expensive relative to the rest of the nation for a while now. The median price of a single-family home on Oahu in July … Read More
A few months ago, we tried to remind folks about “It’s the Economy, Stupid.” There we reported that we had been getting lots of news about our economy, and none of it was good. This month, the University of Hawaii’s … Read More
Here in Hawaii, we are intensely dependent on goods that come into the State from faraway places, whether it be the U.S. mainland, Asia, or anywhere else in the world. Part of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, more commonly … Read More
Q: We continue our series on the past 30 years of state tax with our researcher, the Hawaii State Tax Watch Doggie’s wife. Watch Doggie: And me! A: Oh! So you finally finished barking at the garbage truck? Q: We’ve … Read More
The fight over short-term rentals in Honolulu has entered another phase. On June 25, 2019, Honolulu Mayor Caldwell signed into law Ordinance 2019-18, formerly known as Bill 89. The law took effect on August 1, 2019. Basically, if you want … Read More