Tax revenue projections, Census 2020, COVID committee hearings

Day by day… the legislature, looking at all sources of funding, is crafting a way to pay for our neediest and to reopen safely. But …

WE’RE IN BAD SHAPE
At its meeting yesterday, the state’s Council on Revenues projected a 7% decline in revenues for this fiscal year, and a 12% decline in FY2021. It does predict that FY2022 will show a 12% increase. So we’ll have to weather a terrible storm for two years.

Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Donovan M. Dela Cruz and House Finance Committee Chair Sylvia Luke, however, believe that, using the federal CARES Act funds, strategic budget cuts, and possibly federal loans, the state can move forward without imposing teacher furloughs, statewide pay cuts, or slashing critical social services

The Legislature appropriated $562 million of the $1.2 billion federal CARES Act relief funds to the counties to support their needy residents and businesses, providing  rent subsidies, direct food aid,  business support, etc.. We held the balance of $635 million until we assessed the community’s greatest needs and the final federal relief measures. We will be allocating the balance in two weeks when the legislature reconvenes.

US CENSUS: Did you respond?
The US Census counts everyone in the country every 10 years. The numbers are used to distribute more than $675 billion in federal funds for programs like housing, education, transportation, employment, health care; and, now, how we get our share of relief for our unemployed needy and businesses. So it’s important to be counted. Did you respond — by phone, mail or online?  If not, it’s not too late. See the map below to see how well your community is doing.

Robert Su, US Census Bureau Partnership Specialist, urges you to respond especially those in communities like Waikiki that have a very low response rate. So boost your numbers so we can get more help! The deadline is July 31 but,due to COVID19, it‘s extended to October 31. But while you’re still “safe at home” do your civic duty and respond NOW. It’s quick and easy. It’s safe and secure.  Go to my2020census.gov  and enter your ID from the Census Bureau invitation letter or if you don’t have it, just enter your address online.

SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETS NEXT TUESDAY
The committee continues to meet and will keep looking for a plan forward on reopening and recovery. We will meet next Tuesday (6/2) beginning at 12:45 pm.  Live viewing will be available on Olelo channel 49 and on olelo.org.

We will be be updated on the state’s recovery plan by  Alexandra Slous, State Disaster Recovery Coordinator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HiEMA); and a full coverage of contact tracing technologies, beginning with an update on DOH’s plan, from DOH Director Director Bruce Anderson; followed by Dean Mary Boland, UH Nursing & Dental Hygiene; President Lynn Babington, Chaminade University; President John Gotunda, Hawaii Pacific University; and technology companies Aloha Trace (Brandon Kurisu), Everyline Hawaii (Robert Kurisu) and SafePaths (Michael Kamida).