PACs form to sway voters on school tax ballot issue

Political action committees that can raise unlimited funds already have formed to try to persuade voters in the debate over whether to amend the Hawaii Constitution in November to allow the state to tax investment property to help fund public education. The question will be left up to voters in the general election.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association, a major proponent of the constitutional amendment, already has poured a half-million dollars into a PAC called the HSTA for Schools Our Keiki Deserve, according to filings with the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission. The PAC has paid out $42,000 for surveys and polls to a company called Anzalone Liszt Grove Research, a national public opinion research firm that describes itself as specializing in “message development and strategic consulting.” The PAC also has hired Hamburger Strategies, based in Washington, D.C., to assist with logo design.

Opposing the ballot measure is the Affordable Hawaii Coalition PAC. The coalition is supported by a long list of business interests, including the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, the Land Use Research Foundation, which represents landowners and developers, the Building Industry Association and General Contractors Association. Stanley Lau, owner of Hawaii Tech Support, is serving as chair of the PAC.

Watumull Properties Corp., a real estate development and investment firm, has donated $10,000 to the PAC.

The contributions raised so far are likely just a fraction of what will be poured into the fight over the ballot measure. The next campaign spending report, which will detail contributions and expenditures for the first few weeks of the general election, is not due until Oct. 1.

The Affordable Hawaii Coalition PAC already has begun generating materials urging residents to vote “no” on the ballot question. The coalition argues that a new tax “will raise the cost of living for everyone in our state.”

HSTA, however, has argued that Hawaii’s public schools are chronically underfunded and need more revenue to support teachers’ salaries and the school facilities.

A majority of voters must approve the ballot measure for it to pass. Blank votes will be counted as “no votes.” If the measure passes, it will be up to the Legislature to determine whether to raise property taxes in support of public education, and to work out the specifics of the tax. Currently, only the counties can tax property.