WAIMEA — Civil Beat, the Hawaii-focused online news service that prides itself on its investigative reporting, calls a constitutional amendment on the 2018 Hawaii General Election ballot — which proposes establishing a new tax on investment properties to support public education — “one of the most contentious issues to go before voters.”
While Hawaii voters are being asked to vote a simple yes or no in the Nov. 6 General Election, many view the issue more complicated than a simple up or down vote suggests.
Waimea Community Association’s October town meeting this Thursday night will dig into the proposed constitutional amendment. It simply reads, “Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education?”
Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) is actively advocating its passage by creating and funding a Political Action Committee (PAC) with a half million dollars to communicate their views. They see it as an important first step toward improving public schools in Hawaii by generating more funding for teacher salaries, special education, arts education and career and technical training.
“This is the best chance we’ve had in decades to actually fix our schools,” said HSTA president Corey Rosenlee, who will explain and speak in favor of the ballot amendment at the WCA meeting.
Opponents, including some in business and especially the four counties including Hawaii County, are concerned the proposed amendment gives the state new taxing power they insist belongs to the counties, and that it doesn’t specify which investment properties would be impacted.
Further, some are worried it comes without clarity about what exactly the new funding would be used for within the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE), and that it provides no guarantee that the new revenue would actually increase funding for DOE. Questions include if the legislature could use this new revenue to replace what it currently authorizes for public education, leaving the DOE without a meaningful overall funding increase to make desired improvements.
Further adding to the uncertainty is the DOE’s and Board of Education’s decision to take no position, according to DOE Superintendent Christina Kishimoto.
A factual review of how the proposed amendment might impact taxes for the County of Hawaii will be shared by Lisa Miura, administrator of the County of Hawaii Real Property Tax Division. Because she is not an elected official, but rather a civil servant, Miura will speak about possible tax consequences, not how to vote on the measure.
WCA’s discussion of the education-related constitutional amendment will include time for a Q&A.
The WCA meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m. in Waimea School cafeteria. There is no charge to attend.
Info or questions: Go to www.WaimeaTown.org, www.Facebook.com/ WaimeaCommunity Association or call Patti Cook at 937-2833