Opinion: Here Are Hawaii's Unexpected State Expenses

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State expenses increase every year. Unlike the federal government, the state cannot print money; therefore, states must balance the budget yearly. Here are two unexpected expenses the state will have to deal with during the current legislative session.

1. Hazard Pay

Unions that negotiated hazard pay for workers working during the lockdown will enjoy hazard pay for working during the state lockdown.

1. Maui wildfire - One Ohana Fund, future lawsuits

Hawaii will have to pay for housing for housing of the survivors of the Maui wildfire. Also, the state will have to pay any future lawsuits due to the Maui wildfire.

According to the Senate and Ways Committee Chairman, each department will need to cut their departments by 10% -15 %. The Maui wildfire was unavoidable because no one knew beforehand the cost it would take to pay for the recovery efforts for the Lahaina wildfire resident survivors.

However, the state agreeing to pay Hazard pay for select union members was the state’s way of spending money and figuring out the details later. There will be a 10% - 15% reduction in services or jobs from the government sector to make up for the shortfall they will face.

What state services and jobs will the state cut to balance the state budget?

Final Thoughts

Maybe the lawmakers will pass Senate Bill 103, which gives the governor more power to create more emergency proclamations to collect more funds to pay for state expenses.

Senate Bill 103

In the event of a state of emergency declared by the governor pursuant to section 127A-14, the governor may exercise the following additional powers about emergency management during the emergency period:

Suspend any law that impedes or tends to impede or be detrimental to the expeditious and efficient execution of, or to conflict with, emergency functions, including laws which by this chapter specifically are made applicable to emergency personnel