Hawaii State Government

$4.8 million of unrestricted funds to 216 Hawai‘i-based nonprofit organizations that can be used at their discretion....

...But-but-but What about the separation of church and state?....

...Ige Budget Leaves Tax Hikes to Legislature--includes no funding for raises....

Laurel Johnston to serve as deputy director of the Department of Budget and Finance--Ryker Wada to be the deputy director of the Department of Human Resources Development....

The scope of the HawaiiPay project includes the modernization of the payroll process followed by time and attendance....

A bill calling for the creation of an Office of the Condominium Ombudsman and seven-member commission is currently being drafted in a Hawaii legislative office....

...examines, records, and indexes more than 344,000 land and property documents and maps each year....

...the Office of the Governor did not file statutorily required reports for non-general funds and for administratively created funds....

...A new committee, Intrastate Commerce, will focus on regulations and licensing of Hawaii businesses such as banking, telecommunications and property insurance....

...financially “dead” but are somehow shambling on....

The Chairperson of DLNR will review the applications and select individuals that are deemed qualified to serve on the Water Security Advisory Group per the requirements of Act 172....

Douglas Murdock is stepping down as comptroller and DAGS director on Nov. 18....

... Gov Ige's Newsletter shares HIDOT's latest tax hike sales pitch ....

The proposed Hawaii bill for the 2017 legislative session would institute our own governor-appointed commission and ombudsman’s office and provide for....

One of the interesting things about elections is that so little attention is paid to issues that have major, long-term consequences....

In 2016, Hawaii ranked 40th among the states with an OPEB funding ratio of 29.2 percent....

...free workshop, offered at numerous locations on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island this fall....

...Judge Katherine G. Leonard of the Intermediate Court of Appeals served as Acting Chief Justice for the Hawaii Supreme Court in this case. All five of the regular justices of the Hawaii Supreme Court had recused themselves....

From League of Women Voters, October, 2016....

This report provides the Honolulu City Council with an update on the activities of the Office of the City Auditor....

As of the end of Fiscal Year 2016 Hawaii’s Pipeline balance is $548 million....

...administration will seek to both accelerate state payments into the Employee Retirement System pension fund and establish new rules for dealing with the privatization of government operations....

General fund spending rose 7 percent in 2016, and Ige proposed to increase it 12 percent in 2017....

Despite that heavy spending, Hawaii’s roads are the worst in the U.S. for urban pavement conditions ....

...you have circumvented the Constitution and laws of our state by appointing your so-called “Governor’s ESSA team.”....

Four years ago, the state acquired 1,200 acres of farmland....

Hawaii’s worst rankings are urban Interstate pavement condition (50th) and administrative disbursements per mile (49th).... 

Oliver Porter, a leader in the creation of the public-private city model, will come to Hawaii to be featured at a Grassroot Institute event on Oahu on September 28th and on Maui on September 29th....

...highest ever bond ratings and the strongest credit position the state has ever achieved in its history....

...a federal lawsuit asserting that the amount the State pays to resource families to cover the costs of caring for foster children was inadequate....

SLH’s water carrier service is regulated by the PUC....

Recent headlines reporting a $1 Billion surplus in the state general fund tell only part of the story....

“Our goal is to design a system for highways funding"

...sold municipal bonds using offering documents that contained materially false statements....

SB2077 could result in the ERS plan being disqualified by the Internal Revenue Service....

Hawaii’s Legislators are well on their way to depleting the state’s $890 million cash balance....

Current Deputy Director Pankaj Bhanot will serve as the next DHS director beginning September 1. Mr. Bhanot’s appointment is subject to Senate approval....

There is currently no one on the waiting list, which will reopen on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016....

At the rate Hawaii is spending and taxing, projected budgets will only be sustainable for two more years....

...at $6,000 per resident, the burden of Hawaii’s pension shortfalls is among the highest in the nation....

...assessing the financial health of the state general fund as a result of key decisions made by the legislative and executive branches during the 2016 legislative session....

... Grassroot Institute Exposes Flaws in Veto Override Regarding Maui Hospitals ....

Complete list and links here ....

...2016 VoterVoice Survey Results....

Hemp, Agriculture, Public Safety and TeleHealth....

• HB 2169 Act 212  Relating to Social Workers
• SB 2811 Act 213  Relating to Parental Rights
• HB 1726 Act 214  Relating to Murder

BILL SIGNING CEREMONIES for the following....

State Capitol, 5th floor, Governor’s Ceremonial Room....

On July 12, any measure that has not been signed or vetoed by Gov. Ige will become law with or without his signature....