honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 3:52 p.m., Thursday, January 17, 2008

Lingle proposes $102 million in tax relief over 2 years

Advertiser Staff

Gov. Linda Lingle today proposed $102.1 million in tax relief over two years, with breaks to offset adult care and child care, save for college, protect retirement savings, help the elderly and disabled, and reduce cell-phone bills.

The Republican governor said tax relief is important to reduce the state's high cost of living even though the state's revenue growth is slowing and her administration is making spending restrictions.

State House and Senate Democrats have said significant tax relief is unlikely this session given budget concerns. State lawmakers are required by the state constitution, however, to provide a tax refund this session because the state's budget surplus has exceeded projected revenues by 5 percent for two consecutive years.