Yes, the warning signs are all pointing to a rough 2021. You can be assured that times are never good if what everyone’s idea of hope is deliverance by the federal government.

Not the U.S. Marines landing or a Coast Guard helicopter hovering overhead — but billions of federal dollars showering down on those who lost their job or are weeks away from losing their homes and those with school kids attending schools that are closed.

This month, if there is no federal action, the Associated Press reports, expanded unemployment benefits will cease, federal eviction protection will expire and student loan payments, which had been paused since March, will resume in January.

As I write this, Congress has not agreed to any new deal or compromise. There are a lot of folks looking for that rescue chopper.

In Hawaii, it is the state of Hawaii standing at the head of the line for the biggest handout.

In a statement last week, Gov. David Ige essentially said when the money goes, it is gone and that’s that.

The National Governors Association, as well as Hawaii’s congressional delegation, don’t anticipate action on additional relief packages before the end of the year, Ige warned.

“We are planning on the assumption that CARES Act funding ends,” Ige said. “Certainly that’s a big concern. Right now, we’re using CARES Act funds for unemployment benefits for those who continue to be unemployed. The food, rent and mortgage relief were funded with CARES Act (money), and clearly the state doesn’t have the funds to continue those programs.”

Ige has already tapped into the state’s “rainy day” budget reserve fund, and sold nearly $750 million in short-term general obligation bonds in October to borrow cash to help finance state government operations in the near term. All of that money and interest still has to be repaid and it always limits your options in the future.

Using emergency powers, Ige deferred a $388 million payment the state was supposed to make this year for future health-care obligations. According to news reports, Ige plans to ask lawmakers to defer four more years of similar payments for future health care obligations, for a total savings of $1.85 billion.

Still, Ige warns more is likely to be dropped as state departments have been directed to make plans for 10%, 15% and 20% budget cuts.

The state government spends most of its money paying people as opposed to buying stuff, traveling or building things. The education system is considered the major budget cost with about 13,000 teachers, librarians and counselors, and an additional 12,000 educational officers, civil service and support personnel.

State Rep. Sylvia Luke, House Finance Committee chairwoman, said last week that she would try to fashion a budget that protected as many Department of Education and University of Hawaii jobs as possible.

Still the borrowing and delayed payments are appearing increasingly desperate.

The state can’t just not pay civil service workers, nor can it stop running the schools nor the university.

Unfortunately, with the mounting expenses, it appears the only plan is to hide from the bill collectors until something better happens.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays. Reach him at 808onpolitics@gmail.com.