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Kokua Line
Question: Perhaps because of the skyrocketing gasoline prices, I've been paying more attention to the wording on the gas pumps recently. At two Shell stations, I noticed a sticker that read, "Price includes 51.02 cents on each gallon (plus gross income tax -.04 percent and general sales tax - .5 percent). What exactly are these taxes? Various taxes add
up at the gas pumpAnswer: The taxes are many and varied and levied on the oil companies. Ultimately, they end up being paid by consumers.
Here's a breakdown of the taxes, as provided by Douglas Oshiro, a research statistician with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism's Energy Resources and Technology Division, and the state Department of Taxation:
Federal tax -- 18.4 cents per gallon.
On top of this, the state's 4 percent general excise tax applies to retail fuel sales.
You can find out more about the state's fuel taxes by picking up a copy of Tax Facts 99-1, available at any district tax office; by checking the Tax Department's Web site at http://www.state.hi.us/tax; or by calling 587-7572 (toll-free at 1-800-222-7572).
Q: A state car has been sitting in the driveway of a home in my neighborhood since August. I think the driver is a driver's ed teacher. Do we have so many state cars that we can afford to let one sit idle for 30 or 40 days?
A: The car you cite is assigned to a driver's ed instructor, confirmed JoAnn Swearingen, state program manager for driver's education for the state Department of Education.
He is a retired counselor who has continued to coordinate and teach the driver's ed program at one of the high schools. The car is assigned to him to take home because he currently is the only instructor there, Swearingen said.
As it is, there aren't enough driver's education instructors in the state and that may become a major problem when a new law, requiring driver's ed for all new drivers under 18, takes effect on Jan. 1. But that's another story.
Back to the car: "Many of the schools, as long as they have a safe location on campus, keep (driver's ed cars) on campus," Swearingen said. However, "some cars are assigned to instructors to take home."
That's probably why you see the car stored in the garage. The car is to be used only for school purposes, which includes being driven to and from school. If that route includes stopping at a shopping center on the way home, for example, that is allowed, Swearingen said. Otherwise, it cannot be used for personal errands.
Mahalo
To the good person who found and turned in my payment envelope for Liberty House, which I dropped somewhere downtown on Oct. 17. I really appreciate your concern for others and wish you many returns of the same. -- Careless, but Grateful Person
Auwe
To the person who picked up my plastic container with some dog supplies in it on Wednesday, Oct. 11, and did not turn it into the park keeper at Heeia Neighborhood Park. I left a note for the park keeper, but no one has turned it in yet. Too bad people cannot be more honest. -- Betty
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com