Hawaiʻi Ballot Measure Proposes Bond System for Infrastructure and Housing
What happened
A constitutional amendment measure is on the general election ballot in Hawaiʻi that aims to address the state's housing shortage. If approved, the measure would grant counties the authority to issue bonds to pay for vital infrastructure, such as sewer and water systems, for new homes in defined districts. The bonds would be repaid using higher property tax revenue generated by the redeveloped areas.
Why it matters
The proposal is designed to fund necessary infrastructure without requiring general tax increases, a significant challenge in Hawaiʻi. Luke Evslin, who chairs the House Housing Committee, estimates that Hawaiʻi needs 78,000 more housing units to meet current demand, compared to the current rate of 5,000 homes built annually.
Who's involved
- Luke EvslinState Representative who chairs the House Housing Committee and represents Līhuʻe
- HonoluluCity where redevelopment, such as the Skyline commuter train, is taking place
- Hawaii CountyCounty that would be granted the authority to issue the necessary bonds
- Honolulu Authority for Rapid TransportationCompany involved in the construction of the Skyline commuter train
Keep exploring
The entities involved
-
Luke Evslin
American politician
-
Honolulu
city in and county seat of Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States, that is also the capital city of Hawaii