FULL TEXT: HART Invents New Billion Dollar 'Crisis' to Pressure Council for Tax Hike

by Andrew Walden

Just as the rail lobby did for the 2015 legislature, HART is now ginning up a new billion dollar "financial emergency" timed to justify a Honolulu Council vote to raise the GE Tax by 0.5% for the years 2022-2027 under Act 240.

You weren't fooled by HART this Spring, were you?

You aren't fooled this time either.

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PDF:  HART Crisis Letter

Flashback:

• December 31, 2014: Mufi: HART Crying Wolf When there is no Crisis
• January, 2015: Okino, Djou: End the State Skim on Rail Funds
• January 22, 2015: Creating Fake Crisis to Push Real Tax Hike, Caldwell Drops Fake Bus Funds Raid, Moves on to Fake Road Building Funds Raid
• Feb 13, 2015: Senate Transport Committee Votes for Rail Tax Extension, Admits it's to Build More Rail into Kapolei, Manoa
• Feb 19, 2015: Creating Fake Crisis to Push Tax Hike, Council pretends to remove bus funds from rail money plan
• April 30, 2015: Desperate to Push GE Tax Hike Thru, HART Pretends Property Tax Hike is Only Alternative

Coverage:

• SA: Honolulu rail shortfall now projected at over $1B  "The document gives the mayor and Council chairman — Oahu’s two top political players who also happen to be rivals — a preview of the more detailed and comprehensive rail budget update to come, likely next month.  It also comes as the City Council considers its final vote on a five-year rail tax extension to help the project climb out of its current budget hole. The letter makes clear that the Council still lacks a lot of the latest facts on the project, ahead of that vote later this year."
• Law360: Honolulu Rail Project Facing $1B Shortfall
• CB: Higher Costs and More Delays on the Way for Honolulu Rail