COM 0787.001 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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KRISTIN E. IZUMI•NITAO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STATE OF HAWAI'l CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION 235 SOUTH BERETANIA STREET, ROOM 300 HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813 July 30, 2012 TO: The Honorable Dominic Yagong, Chair County of Hawaii Council The Honorable K. Angel Pilago, Vice Chair County of Hawaii Council Members of the County of Hawaii Council PHONE: (808) 586-0285 FAX: (808) 5860288 W W W.HAWAII.GOV /CAMPAIGN FROM Kristin Izumi - Nitao, Executive Director Campaign Spending Commission SUBJECT: Testimony on Resolution No. 280 -12, Resolution Urging the Hawai'i State Legislature to Adequately Fund Both the Hawai'i Campaign Spending Commission and a Statewide Comprehensive Public Funding System for Elections Tuesday, July 31, 2012 9:30 a.m., Hilo County Building Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony on this resolution. The Campaign Spending Commission ( "Commission ") expresses concerns in expanding a comprehensive public funding program statewide when it does not have the proper funding or staff to run such a significant program. As you know, the Commission administers the Hawaii County Council Comprehensive Public Funding ( "HCCCPF ") program pursuant to Act 244 which begun implementation in 2010 and is operative for the 2012 and 2014 elections as Iong as there is $3.5 million in the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund ( "HECF "). The HECF is a trust fund which was created to enable taxpayers to designate $3 (previously, $2) from a portion of their income tax liability to the fund. See, Hawaii Revised Statutes ( "HRS ") §11 -421. It is from the HECF that public funds are provided to candidates that qualify for not only the comprehensive public funding for the Hawaii County Council but also partial public funding for all candidates. It is also from the HECF that all Commission operations are paid for It therefore represents the primary revenue source for Commission business and programming.' Consequently, it is essential to discuss the impact to the HECF if comprehensive public funding were extended statewide. With a beginning balance of $5 million on June 30, 2009, the Pursttaftt"tti`Act 244,SLH 2008, the legislature reallocated the Commission's other revenue source of fines and penalties-to the general fund.