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Friday, May 6, 2011
SB120: Legislators authorize raid of more than $17 million in special funds
By Grassroot Institute @ 6:14 PM :: 6128 Views :: Energy, Environment

In just one bill, legislators authorize raid of more than $17 million in special funds

From www.GrassrootInstitute.org

With the close of the 2011 Regular Legislative Session yesterday, lawmakers have finalized how they plan to achieve a balanced budget for the next 2 years. Included in this balancing act are tax increases, repealed tax credits and exemptions, and special funds authorized to be raided.

In Senate Bill 120, it states that there are many special funds “in excess of the requirements” of those funds. The director of finance has up until June 30, 2011, to raid all of that “excess” money, amounting to more than $17 million, and put it into the general fund.

Why is there so much extra money in these funds? Is the state overcharging taxpayers or has the original need that called for the collection of this money changed so dramatically that perhaps these special funds are unnecessary? Even though the Legislature has adjourned, citizens can contact lawmakers at anytime to get answers to these and any other questions (See contact information below.)

Here is a list of the special fund amounts authorized in Senate Bill 120 for transfer to the general fund:

  1. state risk management revolving fund - $1,000,000
  2. Medicaid investigations recovery fund - $500,000
  3. compliance resolution fund - $4,200,000
  4. mental health and substance abuse special fund - $2,000,000
  5. drug demand reduction assessments special fund - $700,000
  6. neurotrauma special fund - $250,000
  7. environmental management special fund - $750,000
  8. deposit beverage container deposit special fund - $300,000
  9. employment and training fund - $44,000
  10. Waialua loan subsidy program balance, contained in the rental assistance revolving fund - $1,174
  11. University of Hawaii faculty housing project series 1995 bond proceed special fund - $520,780
  12. stadium special fund - $500,000
  13. Kikala-Keokea housing revolving fund - $428,924
  14. community use of school facilities special fund - $1,000,000
  15. federal grants search, development, and application revolving fund - $500,000
  16. trauma system special fund - $1,000,000
  17. captive insurance administrative fund - $2,500,000
  18. health care revolving fund - $916,284

Total amount earmarked for raiding from these special funds = $17,111,162

To send an email to all legislators, go to:

Or find your individual Senator or Representative at:

To contact the governor, go to:  http://hawaii.gov/gov/contact/

To see this post in Rooted in Reason, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3vuttn9 or go to other posts at: http://rootedinreason.com/

Start a discussion at http://www.HawaiiVotes.org or on HawaiiVotes Facebook.

Hawaii Votes is a free public service of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Its purpose is to inform citizens, community leaders, business people, media, and public officials about legislation that affects their families, schools, jobs and communities. The site empowers citizens to take a more active part in the democratic process, and hold their elected representatives accountable. Hawaii Votes gives users instant access to concise, plain language and objective descriptions of bills, substantive amendments, and votes that take place in the Hawaii Legislature. Unlike any other bill tracking utility, Hawaii Votes is unique because all legislative actions are described - not just those selected by a particular interest group. It is searchable by legislator, keyword, and 50 subject categories, so users can create their own custom "voting record guide." See the Web site at http://www.hawaiivotes.org

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