Hawaii Republican Assembly

HERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT WARNING FROM STATE SENATOR SAM SLOM . . .

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE COUNCIL ON REVENUES GENERAL FUND FORECAST:
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE $844 MILLION SURPLUS?

On September 4th, the state Council on Revenues lowered its projections for state general fund revenues for the fifth consecutive time. The council members specifically lowered the revenue projections for fiscal year 2014, which recently ended on June 30th, from -0.4% to -1.8%. This amounts to a loss of $76M in anticipated general fund revenues. To make matters worse, the council also lowered its projections for fiscal year 2015, from 5.5% to 3.5%. This amounts to an additional $188M in anticipated loss of general fund revenues.

According to the council's projections, over the course of the state's two-year budget cycle (fiscal years 2014-2015), the state will somehow have to absorb a total loss of $264M of anticipated general fund revenues.

The council's latest forecast raises two important questions: How will this revenue forecast affect the upcoming legislative session? And, what lessons can be learned moving forward?

How will the revenue forecast affect the upcoming legislative session?
The upcoming 2015 legislative session is very important, not only because a new Governor and Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair will soon take office, but because the state legislature needs to approve a new biennial budget. This budget will lay out the state's spending and revenue plan for the upcoming fiscal years of 2016 and 2017.

During the last legislative session, the legislature enacted a budget that was unbalanced in the long-run. This means the previous budget includes more spending as opposed to incoming revenue. This budget effectively depletes the state's $844M general fund surplus of 2013. As table I and 2 highlights, without any additional budget cuts, the 2013 surplus will be depleted as early as 2016. On July 1, 2014, the state's budget director Kalbert Young realized the gravity of the state's deteriorating fiscal outlook withholding 10 percent of discretionary general fund spending for the first quarter of 2015. Although his action could certainly be applauded, in absolute terms, the 10 percent cut only amounts to $14M. Even if the budget director's policy of 10% discretionary budget cuts is extended through all 4 quarters of 2015, this will amount to only $56M in proposed cuts. This is not enough in budget cuts to pull the state out of its current fiscal deficit position.

This all means that the upcoming legislature will have to consider the following three difficult and unpopular political decisions during the 2015 budget negotiations:

Tap into the state reserves (Hurricane Relief Fund and/or Emergency Budget Reserve Fund, if permitted by law) to fund government operations beyond FY 2016;
Increase general fund revenues through tax and/or fee increases; and or
Cut spending.

Although the third option seems most favorable, unfortunately it will more likely be a combination of all three options that will be implemented.

What lessons can be learned moving forward?
History indicates that cutting spending is a very unpopular and politically cumbersome process for any legislature. To move forward, it is important the new administration presents a realistic budget to the legislature that is based on conservative revenue estimates as opposed to overly optimistic revenue estimates. Although the legislature is constitutionally required to balance the budget on a two year basis, prudent fiscal management dictates that consideration be given to the long-term implications of spending decisions.

Mahalo to State Senator Sam Slom for warning the people of Hawaii about the mismanagement of our state government . . . which just happens to be dominated by Democrats in every branch: executive, legislative, and judicial. Just 30 days until the 2014 General Election, it's easy to pinpoint where the blame lies.

Since the Hawaii Republican Assembly (HIRA) is the only Republican organization actively communicating about these and other critical issues with the public by way of paid advertising that reaches across the state, HIRA needs your help in funding ads which help to educate and persuade the public about the problems created by Democrats and the opportunities promised by Republicans.

Please join us for HIRA's next fundraising dinner headlined by the national president of the NRA. That's right, the head of the National Rifle Association - Jim Porter. Click below for more information. Mahalo!!

Please click "Forward email" near the bottom of this message in order to easily share this e-mail with friends and family, neighbors and co-workers.