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Thursday, October 10, 2019
$88B Debt: Hawaii CHANGE Initiative highlights state's future financial obligations
By Grassroot Institute @ 6:06 PM :: 4043 Views :: Economy, Hawaii State Government

Grassroot Institute hails report showing $88B debt 

The Hawaii CHANGE Initiative highlights all the state's future financial obligations

News release from Grassroot Institute

HONOLULU, Oct. 10, 2019 >> Hawaii’s state and county expenses and investments over the next 30 years are estimated at more than $88 billion, according to a new report by the Hawaii CHANGE Initiative, which points broadly to how those expenses might be handled.

Without going into specifics, the report recommends generally committing to “public investments in order to “build and maintain infrastructure, prepare for natural disasters and sea level rise, and meet public employee retiree and health care obligations.”

Titled “Troubled Waters: Charting a New Fiscal Course for Hawaii,” the report was presented on Hawaii Island last week at the annual Hawaii Executive Conference, which was established in 1963 to provide Hawaii executives and regional leaders a forum for exchanging expertise and ideas. 

According to the group’s new report, planned Hawaii government expenditures over the next 30 years include affordable housing, $3.2 billion; county water and wastewater, $5.7 billion; transportation infrastructure, $5.5 billion; Honolulu rail, $9.2 billion; public education, $12.6 billion; public safety, $1 billion; public facilities, $8.9 billion; natural disasters and climate change, $15.3 billion; and pension and health benefits, $25.7 billion.

“Facing these three challenges will cost over $88 billion,” the report says. “Overcoming these fiscal challenges with limited financial resources will require strategic vision, collaboration, and innovation … The broader community needs to recognize that the status quo cannot be maintained. Change will happen whether we like it or not.”

Keli’i Akina, president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, applauded the report for being a wakeup call to Hawaii residents.

“Hawaii’s future debt is unsustainable,” Akina said. "Hawaii leaders will need to make tough decisions about where to spend our limited resources.”

He added, “Hawaii’s long-term expenses will ultimately be paid for by young people, who already find it difficult to live in the islands because of the high cost of living. Reducing taxation and removing economic barriers would help lower our cost of living and grow our economy so we can better address the state’s financial problems.”

The report was produced by the CHANGE Committee on Government & Civic Engagement, led by Colbert Matsumoto, founder and chairman of Tradewind Capital Group and a former trustee of the state Employees’ Retirement System. 

Matsumoto wrote in the executive summary that “the extent of future costs that state and local governments are required to meet will strain their capacity beyond any prior experience.”

In addition to Matsumoto, principal authors of the report were Sterling Higa and Jeff Laupola. 

Contributors included Todd Apo, Joan Bennet, Carl Bonham, Paul Brewbaker, Kyle Chock, Caleb Chodosh, Makena Coffman, Seth Colby, Chip Fletcher, Mike Formby, Jason Fujimoto, Ralph Gaston, Paul Harleman, Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson, Tim Johns, Micah Kane, Joelle Kane, Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran, Duane Kurisu, Sara Lin, Wesley Machida, Mike Mohr, Cristina Moon, Sean Nakamura, Mike Onofrietti, Kuuhaku Park, Chris Pating, Michael Pietsch, Aisha Price, Bill Reeves, Veronica Rocha, Randall Roth, Jackson Sayama, Scott Seu, Jack Suyderhoud, Blair Suzuki, Eugene Tian, Tiffany Vara, Nicole Velasco, Richard Vuylsteke, Keoni Williams, Tom Yamachika, Jan Yokota, and LiAnne Yu.

Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, also contributed to the report.

The Hawaii CHANGE Initiative was created by the Hawaii Executive Conference in 2018 with the goal of addressing “critical issues confronting our state.” It is based on the CHANGE Framework created by the Hawaii Community Foundation, and covers the areas of Community & Economy, Health & Wellness, Arts & Culture, Natural Environment, Education, and Government & Civics.

###

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and educational institution devoted to promoting individual liberty, economic freedom and accountable government.  

CB: $88 Billion: A New Price Tag For Fixing Hawaii’s Infrastructure And Retirement Systems

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