Next year’s state budget will increase by more than $1 billion, but you wouldn’t know it by reading the local newspapers.

Journalists write about legislators trimming the budget (“Legislators greenlight $28 billion budget for operations,” Star-Advertiser, April 25), but the real story is that budget spending is growing by record amounts.

The article mentions that the Legislature voted to “trim the overall budget somewhat from what Gov. David Ige originally proposed.” But the “trim” is really just a reduction in proposed spending increases — like a dress that was marked up 100 percent and is selling for only 10 percent off. It’s still an increase.

Here’s the real story: State lawmakers are opening the floodgates to more spending, and at the same time, planning to soak Hawaii taxpayers.

Joe Kent

Vice president of research, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

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Trump hypocritical about Syrian victims

In justifying his decision to launch a retaliatory attack against the Syrian government for poisoning its own people, including babies and children, with chemical gas, President Donald Trump said, “No child of God should ever suffer such horror.”

It’s hard to believe that those tears-provoking words of compassion are coming from a man who has repeatedly expressed his disdain for immigrants and refugees. In fact, he made anti- immigrants, anti-diversity and anti-refugees a centerpiece of his political agenda, which have drawn cheers of approval from his white political base.

Trump’s penchant for deceptive rhetoric makes it difficult to discern the genuineness of what he’s saying. If his gesture of empathy for the dead Syrian babies and children signifies a true change of heart, he needs to prove it.

Rescinding his ill-advised travel ban order would be a good starting point. Otherwise, his words of empathy for the Syrian children are just empty words wrapped with cruel hypocrisy.

Rod B. Catiggay

Mililani

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GET surcharge should be increased

When the general excise tax surcharge for rail first went into effect, I did not know it was in effect. I did not see any difference when I went shopping. I said it should be made permanent.

I still feel the same way. It should be made permanent and should go one step further. Add another 1/2 percent and make it to 1 percent.

Put the excess into the general fund. It will help the city maintain the rail, the bus system, emergency services, city workers’ pay raises and housing the homeless.

We are all going to pay it sooner or later.

Herbert Ishida

Mililani

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Politicians hide true cost of rail

There is nothing more disgusting than the discussions by our city politicians on which tax to use to fund our rail system, the general excise tax or the property tax. All they are trying to do is hide what rail is really costing you.

Here is all you really need to know:

>> Roughly 15 percent of each of these taxes is paid for with tourist dollars.

>> The 1/2 percent GET surcharge raised $259 million in 2015.

>> Oahu property taxes raised $894 million in 2015.

>> $259 million is 29 percent of $894 million. Therefore, to raise $259 million from property taxes, rather than the GET, would require a 29 percent increase in property taxes.

For a $750,000 home, currently taxed at $2,625 a year, the increase would be $761.

The City Council and mayor do not want to use the property tax for rail because you will find out how much the 1/2 percent GET hike is really costing you.

Cliff Slater

Pacific Heights

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Honolulu needs rail, now more than ever

I am a strong supporter of the Honolulu rail transit project even though, as a Kaimuki resident, I probably won’t be using it.

The reason for my strong support for rail is because I needed it 35 years ago when I lived in Makakilo and had to commute to work in Kaimuki five or more days a week, for over 10 years.

It took me over an hour to drive to work, each way, in rush-hour traffic with the sun in my eyes, each way.

In the 1970s, Mayor Frank F. Fasi tried to get the rail line built, when there was lots more open land and no City of Kapolei.

But the opposition felt rail was not needed, was too expensive and would not be used.

The opponents said there were better ways to handle the traffic congestion problems.

How has that worked out over the last three decades? Have the rail opponents come up with any other viable mass transit options?

For the good of our island residents and visitors, we all need to support as many alternative transportation methods as possible. If we don’t build rail now, what will Oahu be like in 30 more years?

Toni Robinson

Kaimuki

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Wahiawa General needs state support

I am writing to express my strong support for the funding requested this session to help Wahiawa General Hospital survive.

Granted, in these days of corporate medicine, the small community hospital struggles. That does not mean Wahiawa Hospital should die.

As a registered nurse who worked there for 25-plus years, I am well aware of how important this small hospital is to Central Oahu. I know that if the hospital fails, the community will suffer.

If the hospital fails, it will take the heart out of Wahiawa.

Unfortunately, most of our Central Oahu legislators, with some exceptions, are either too young or too town-oriented to understand how much WGH has done for our communities or how much it would be missed.

The monies requested are small. Support should not be based upon political loyalties, and the time is short.

Let’s hope politics will be placed aside and the WGH will continue to benefit the residents of Central Oahu into the future.

Marilyn B. Lee

Mililani