ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ

Despite meeting “best practices” in several areas, the project has room for improvement in others, panel finds.

The Honolulu mayor spent much of a budget press conference emphasizing the need for the Legislature to extend the general excise tax surcharge.

Almost all options for saving the over-budget project are still on the table as the House and Senate consider extending the GET surcharge.

The measure now goes to the full City Council for further consideration.

The measures before Hawaii Senate panels call for extending the general excise tax hike on Oahu and returning the state’s skim to the city.

The report by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization says the so-called “skim” is far in excess of the state’s actual costs

Caldwell proposes increases in Oahu’s fuel tax, vehicle weight tax and parking fees to show the city has “skin in the game.”

The Senate president said lawmakers are not united on a plan, even as the House speaker reiterated his ideas to fund the troubled project.

Lawmakers will consider medical aid in dying legislation while also weighing how to fund transportation projects such as Honolulu rail.

New Chairman Ron Menor says he and Mayor Kirk Caldwell are committed to fully funding the project.