Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Governor Ige’s ‘cuts’ still result in big spending increases
By Grassroot Institute @ 6:01 PM :: 4629 Views :: Hawaii State Government

Governor Ige’s ‘cuts’ still result in big spending increases

by Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute, Feb 21, 2017

Hawaii Governor David Ige announced that he would cut $220 million from his current spending plan. However, the ‘cuts’ are only reductions in proposed spending increases. Overall, Governor Ige’s budget still results in more spending every year.

The biggest reduction in future spending will come from $74 million in payments to unfunded liabilities health benefits for retirees, which would reduce the total payment from $370 million down to $296 million, which is the same payment level as last year.

Other reductions in future spending increases include $18 million from the Department of Education and $18 million from the University of Hawaii; however, both departments will still see large increases in spending overall.

Governor Ige dialed back 2018 spending in response to the warning from his administration that Hawaii would receive less tax revenue in future years. However, the Governor did not reduce spending at all in 2019 or beyond.

This miscalculation creates an unbalanced budget in the years ahead, exceeding revenues by $226 million in 2019 and $39 million in 2020. This creates a dangerous financial situation, as Hawaii’s government continues to spend money it doesn’t have.

Instead of snipping from proposed spending increases, Hawaii lawmakers should provide real cuts and live within our means. If Governor Ige continues to ignore his own administration’s warnings about reductions in tax revenue, Hawaii will continue to move towards an era of unbalanced budgets and deficit spending.

---30---

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii