Some folks ask me if I have any radical ideas to change the tax system in Hawaii. Here’s one: Stop taxing transportation of goods and people. Before you stop laughing uproariously, though, consider this. First, we can’t tax air transportation. … Read More
This week we focus on our safety net systems for people or families in need. In the early 1990s, a major part of this net came from the federal Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, which matched state … Read More
A recent op-ed column in Real Clear Politics by Scott Hodge, president of the national Tax Foundation (not related to the Tax Foundation of Hawaii although the names are similar) brought up some interesting ideas, spurred by the announced plans … Read More
Hawaii is an island state that is home to a unique set of flora and fauna. It’s vulnerable to invasive species not only from foreign countries but also from the mainland United States, and our Department of Agriculture has traditionally … Read More
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