Christmas came early for many聽鈥 but not for all 鈥 when Gov. David Ige announced his $13 billion supplemental budget Monday.
It includes $160 million to rebuild the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe, $179 million for improvements to airports in Kona and Honolulu and $161 million for affordable housing.
The governor also wants $164 million for post-employment benefits for state workers and retirees 鈥 also known as unfunded liabilities or other post-employment benefits.聽There is $30 million for 鈥渉eat abatement鈥 in public schools and $35 million for a new classroom building at Campbell High School in Ewa Beach.
All told, the governor asked for $248 million in support for education while acknowledging 鈥渁 lot more needs to be done.鈥澛(Asked why he wasn鈥檛 proposing to spend more on the Department of Education, Ige replied, 鈥淎re you willing to pay increased taxes?鈥)
Ige’s budget also includes $1.8 billion for construction projects.
Additionally, the budget contains more than $9 million for homeless programs, including $2.2 million 鈥渢o keep public spaces public鈥 鈥 that is, to help the state clear state lands where homeless people congregate.
Ige said the budget聽makes good on聽the聽promise he made to the people of Hawaii when he was running for governor last year: “to get our government house in order, honor our obligations and commitments and act to improve the lives of Hawaii鈥檚 people. The budget I am submitting this year keeps that promise.”
But there weren鈥檛 many gifts in Ige鈥檚 big聽bag for the University of Hawaii, which won鈥檛 see an additional $3 million that school officials had requested to offset a deficit in the Athletics Department.
Still, it wasn鈥檛 exactly a lump of coal in a stocking, either. UH would get $4 million for the Cancer Center and $60 million in capital improvement project funds for renewal and deferred maintenance at campuses statewide.
Ige said his supplemental budget represented 鈥渢argeted changes鈥 to the two-year, $26 billion budget that was approved last May.
鈥淲e are focused on areas where government can make a real difference in the lives of Hawaii鈥檚 citizens,鈥 he said at a news conference at the Capitol with Budget and Finance Director Wes Machida at his side.
Among the budget items still to be determined are the costs to the state to absorb the defunct Hawaii Health Connector into the insurance coverage portal.
Nor is it clear how much the Legislature will need to provide the . The First Circuit Court earlier this month said the state had failed to provide adequate funding and that DHHL should received at least $28 million in general funds this coming fiscal year. Ige said he was reviewing the decision with Attorney General Doug Chin.
The budget now goes to the House Finance Committee, which will begin hearing specific department budget requests Jan. 4 along with the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Finance Chair Rep.Sylvia Luke said Ige鈥檚 supplemental budget reflected 鈥渢he tone鈥 that she and Ige set when he was Ways and Means chair 鈥 鈥渧ery cautious, still making investment in the future.鈥
She praised the governor for putting more money toward unfunded liabilities, for example, but said other items would require a closer look.
One would be the $160 million for the State Hospital. While pleased that the administration is committed to a new facility, Luke said it was 鈥渁 huge amount鈥 that calls for quicker work than the seven to eight years envisioned for the project.
Luke also was disappointed not to see a budget proposal for the Oahu Community Correctional Center, which she argued needs to be rebuilt somewhere else besides its current location in Kalihi. Ige said he’d have more to say about OCCC in his State of the State address next month.
Ways and Means Chair Sen. Jill Tokuda did not respond to a request for comment on the governor鈥檚 fiscal priorities.
The supplemental budget in brief , while the longer document .
GET IN-DEPTH REPORTING ON HAWAII鈥橲 BIGGEST ISSUES
Support Independent, Unbiased News
Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in 贬补飞补颈驶颈. When you give, your donation is combined with gifts from thousands of your fellow readers, and together you help power the strongest team of investigative journalists in the state.
About the Author
-
Chad Blair is the politics editor for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at cblair@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at .