Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Wednesday, January 12, 2000
State tax revenue dipped in December
Tax revenues dropped 12.9 percent in December, the combined result of a holiday that closed stores and lower income, insurance premium and estate tax collections, according to the state Department of Taxation.The department today reported collections of $220.4 million, down $32.6 million from the previous December. The decrease brings total collections in the first half of the fiscal year to $1.419 billion, 0.9 percent below the previous fiscal year.
The state Council on Revenues has predicted a 1.1 percent decrease in total collections for the full fiscal year ending in June.
Director of Taxation Ray Kamikawa noted that retail sales over the New Year's weekend fell because Dec. 31 was a holiday.
Total general excise and use tax collections, however, are up 1.1 percent thus far in the fiscal year.
Seminars offer help on trademarks
Small business owners interested in obtaining patents or trademarks can get information at two upcoming seminars.Sponsored by the Hawaii state library and the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network, the seminars will be held Jan. 19 and 20 at the Ala Moana Hotel.
The first one, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 19, will focus on getting patent information. Registration is $20.
The second one, which is from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 20, will deal with trademarks. Registration is $10.
The deadline for registering is Friday. For information on both courses, call 586-3477.
Real estate agent merges 3 offices
Realtor James W. Wright, owner of two Century 21 franchises on Oahu and one on the Big Island, has merged them into one firm, Century 21 All Islands. Wright said the businesses have been growing fast and placing them into one entity will be good for efficiency and make further expansion easier.Wright said he wants to expand the business to Maui and on Oahu.