July 22, 2026, 10 a.m.
Hawai`i County Building
To: Hawaii County Council Committee on Finance
Matt Kaneali`I-Kleinfelder, Chair
James E. Hustace, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst
Re: Bill 171 (2026) — RELATING TO FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
Aloha Chair Kaneali`I-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Hustace and other members of the Committee,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 171 (2026), which would require the county Director of Finance to prepare a fiscal impact statement for any county legislation that would have budget implications.
The fact that the Council often considers bills without any reliable estimates of what the proposed legislation could cost or save taxpayers is a matter of great frustration. Essentially, a practice that is considered irresponsible for families living on a budget — making purchases without knowing the price tag — is common in Hawaii lawmaking.
Fiscal notes, which are informed estimates of how much revenue bills might generate or cost, are the solution.
Enacting this legislation would make Hawaii County the first government body in the state to require such assessments. The county technically can require fiscal impact statements already under section 2-12.7 of the county code, but that process has not been frequently used.
Making fiscal impact statements mandatory instead of optional would go a long way toward promoting transparency and accountability in county government.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Jonathan Helton
Policy Analyst
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
1050 Bishop St. #508 | Honolulu, HI 96813 | 808-864-1776 | info@grassrootinstitute.org
