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Vote Count
Selling the Rail Proposal (Charles Carole)
Milestone in Preserving Agriculture in Hawaii (Pearl Johnson)
Corrections (Pearl Johnson)
Slower Oahu Population Growth (Charles Carole)
Rail and Ann Kobayashi's Election (Pearl Johnson)
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Slower Oahu Population Growth

The U.S. Census Bureau has been estimating Honolulu population each year from 2000 to 2008. Their latest estimate as of 7/1/08 was 905,034. The population projection for 2030, based on their 8 year population growth rate, would be much lower than the City's projection for 2030.

One of the main reasons that Honolulu population will not grow as fast as the City projects is our high cost of living. A Honolulu Advertiser article (5/1/09)told about long-term-care expenses soaring. A private nursing home room in Honolulu has a median cost of $123,000 a year, almost 2/3 more than the $74,208 median nationally. A semi-private room in a nursing home costs $97,455 a year in Honolulu. That compares with $66,886 nationally. Assisted-living facilities had a yearly median rate of $42,000 in Honolulu and the national average was $33,903.

Locally, State and City are running deficits. The State is laying off workers and reducing some agencies’ budgets. This will reduce State income and excise tax revenues because workers will have less income and spend less money.

The City's solution is to raise taxes and issue a billion dollar bond. However, with reduced hotel tax revenue and a smaller amount from the excise tax surcharge, the City might have to raise more taxes or reduce their expenditures by furloughing their workers, too.

Better yet, the City might find a cheaper solution than building a $6 billion rail and an untold amount for transit-oriented developments. Increased cost would reduce employment opportunities.

Charles Carole

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