EDITORIAL
State must fulfill its promise on housing

The prospects for developing affordable housing desperately needed by Hawai'i families seem brighter this legislative session — provided lawmakers can keep the public's best interest above partisan concerns.

Encouragingly, the Lingle administration is nearly aligned with the Senate version of the housing bill. This proposal would favor project loans and grants for families making up to 140 percent of median income — more flexible income requirements than what the House bill would set.

The Senate and governor disagree, however, on issues such as the tax incentive Lingle wants to give those developers who produce the first 2,500 units. The Senate Ways and Means panel fears that the state can't afford to lose that tax revenue.

Clearly, the critical need for affordable housing demands that developers build the units now, not later, and Lingle's proposed tax waiver would help sweeten the pot. Still, there must be room for compromise.

Any incentive for builders, of course, must be paired with a guarantee that the homes built actually are indeed affordable for middle- or low-income families they are meant to serve.

Affordable housing is a crucial mission on which government and private business should work together — and both sides share accountability for fulfilling the promise.