Relating To Tax Increment Bonds.
The bill mandates that counties conduct a comprehensive economic impact analysis prior to issuing any tax increment bonds. This analysis must assess potential impacts on local job creation, housing availability, tax revenues, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, the findings of such analyses must be made publicly available at least thirty days before bond issuance, strengthening the accountability mechanisms in public finance.
SB374 is a legislative act proposed in Hawaii aimed at regulating tax increment bonds (TIF) as a means for economic development. The bill is inspired by the experiences of other states that have implemented TIF, notably California and Colorado, where similar financing methods have been used to redevelop underserved areas. The legislation emphasizes the need for improvements in the management of TIF, particularly in regard to preventing fiscal overextension, ensuring rigorous economic impact assessments, and enhancing transparency in reporting.
Among the significant provisions of SB374 is the requirement for counties to conduct independent biennial audits of TIF projects to monitor fiscal health and compliance. These audits must be submitted to the legislature and made publicly accessible, which is intended to bolster financial transparency. The bill also restricts the total outstanding TIF bonds that can be excluded from a county's debt limit to twenty percent, thereby potentially limiting the counties' fiscal flexibility. Concerns have been raised, however, regarding the potential administrative burden this may create as well as the implications it may have for local governments' capacity to fund essential projects, which could lead to ongoing discussions in legislative circles.
Lastly, the bill requires a constitutional amendment to be ratified to fully implement these changes, specifically regarding the exclusion of tax increment bonds from the counties' determination of funded debt. The approval of such an amendment would be crucial for the long-term execution of the principles established in SB374, signaling a commitment to responsible fiscal management while enabling localities to leverage tax increment financing as a development tool.