Senate Ways and Means Supplemental Budget Includes Maui Items

Piʻilani Highway (left) file photo by Wendy Osher; Kīhei High School EIS (right), Courtesy image.

An estimated $38 million in general obligation bond funds is proposed for the continued construction costs for the new high school in Kīhei on Maui.  The funds are part of a supplemental budget proposed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

The Senate draft also reflects a significant investment in operating support for homeless programs, totaling over $7.3 million; and projects to increase the supply of affordable housing statewide.

There’s also extensive support for hospitals and health care needs, including $7,900,000 in general funds for the Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation in order to meet the shortfall of the corporate allocation costs due to the Maui hospital transition.

Other Maui allocations include: one position and $21,684 in general funds for the Maui Audit Branch within the Department of Taxation; and $402,500 in special funds and $1,132,500 in federal funds for motor vehicle replacement and other current expenses at Kahului Airport.

The Governor’s operating budget proposed to add approximately $335 million in general funds for fiscal year 2016-2017.  The Senate draft reduced this amount by approximately $215 million in general funds, resulting in a total operating budget add of $120 million in general funds for fiscal year 2016-2017.  The Senate draft did not include 100% pre-funding of Other Post-Employment Benefits, which was included in the Governor’s draft, and amounted to approximately $163 million dollars.

“The Senate draft of the supplemental budget balances priority needs with existing resources, ensuring programs and services can be maintained over time,” said Sen. Jill Tokuda (Dist. 24 –Kane‘ohe, Kane‘ohe MCAB, Kailua, He‘eia, ‘Ahuimanu), WAM Committee chair.  “Our Committee once again identified ways to encourage efficiencies and better utilize base appropriations to do more with less, without unsustainably adding to our budget.”