State Legislature close to finalizing budget
A final version of the State Budget Bill was approved Tuesday night by Senate and House conferees and now heads to floor of both chambers next week for a final vote before being transmitted to Gov. Josh Green for consideration.
The budget covers the next two fiscal years, 2024 and 2025, and provides appropriations of $11.3 billion and $10.4 billion in general funds, respectively, a news release said.
Additionally, the bill includes a capital improvement project budget of $2.9 billion in FY24 and $1.3 billion in FY25. A total of $40 million ($20 million in operating funds and $20 million in capital improvement funds) were appropriated for grant-in-aid requests.
“This budget bill encompasses not only the priorities of the Senate, House, and the Governor, but it is also reflective of the concerns and issues that matter the most to the people of Hawaii,” said Oahu Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “In working collaboratively with the Governor and our colleagues in both chambers, we are confident that this bill will provide opportunities for Hawaii residents not just to survive, but to thrive in Hawaii.”
Maui Rep. Kyle Yamashita, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Finance said: “We have proposed an aggressive, yet cautious and optimistic approach to building this budget.”
He added: “Enormous federal funding that helped all of us survive the pandemic has created an unintended consequence for all states. Governments have a rare amount of resources that, if strategically well spent, can pay dividends into the future.”
Yamashita said the budget “focuses on healing and investing in the future,” as it will increase Medicaid reimbursement rates by providing more than $72 million to the health care industry to make it more resilient in providing critical health care services, especially for lower income families.
The budget will also provide more than $100 million to agencies responsible “for healing our natural resources by fixing our parks and beaches, rejuvenating our conservation and preservation lands, and supporting our aquatic resources.”
Also added was $38.8 million to the Preschool Open Doors program that will get matched by federal funds, allowing the state to expand public and private preschool and early learning opportunities to three-yearolds.
“We are investing over $300 million to increase our inventory of affordable housing for the middle class,” Yamashita said.
He added these are “examples of how we are setting up the state for decades of success.”
For Maui County, State Sen. and Assistant Majority Floor Leader Lynn DeCoite of Molokai announced Wednesday that nearly $100 million in capital improvement projects and grant-in-aid appropriations for her district were also included in the final version of the state budget voted on in conference committee.
“I am deeply grateful to Representative Kyle Yamashita, Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, and Senator Gil Keith-Agaran for their invaluable support in helping to secure the funding needed to address many of the concerns that Maui Nui residents face every day,” said DeCoite. “Without a doubt, these funds will significantly contribute to our endeavors to enhance the standard of living for our constituents and their families.”
Some of the funding in DeCoite’s Senate District 7 of Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe include:
¯ $37.7M for construction improvements to terminals, systems, and facilities at Kahului Airport.
¯ $20M for construction and expansion of Kula Agricultural Park.
¯ $14.7M for plans, design, construction and equipment related to improvements, repairs, renovations, expansion, modernization, and upgrades to Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, and Lanai Community Hospital.
¯ $2.5M for construction related to soil remediation and other ground and site improvements at Kahului Airport.
¯ $2M for improvements to the Molokai Irrigation System.
¯ $7M for the design of a multipurpose building with a kitchen and other infrastructure improvements at Kula Elementary School.
¯ $6.5M for projects at Molokai Complex Area Schools related to design, improvements, and maintenance projects.
¯ $5M for projects at Lanai High and Elementary School related to various upgrades and improvements.
DeCoite said that as part of the Senate Ways and Means Committee she also played a role in getting funds for other projects including:
¯ $10M for food innovative centers statewide ($1.5M for Molokai and $1.5M for Maui).
¯ $6.1M for statewide axis deer mitigation.
¯ $1.6M for EMS Molokai ambulance and personnel.