A state House committee has tweaked Gov. Josh Green鈥檚 proposed budget for next fiscal year with a roughly $100 million trim mainly from many relatively small changes.
The 16-member House Finance Committee unanimously approved a new draft of the state budget bill Wednesday, describing the $10.7 billion spending plan for state government operations using state funds in the fiscal year that begins July 1 as something that strengthens essential public services in the face of federal funding losses.
鈥淭his budget reflects the state鈥檚 efforts to step up and address funding gaps created by federal reductions to critical lifeline programs, while maintaining a balanced approach that protects essential government services,鈥� Rep. Chris Todd, chair of the committee, said in a statement.
House Bill 1800 will be next voted upon by the full 51-member House of Representatives, and is expected to then be sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for consideration and more changes that likely will be reconciled by a joint House and Senate committee near the beginning of May.
The $10.7 billion represents general fund appropriations for state operations, and compares with $10.4 billion for the current fiscal year.
When including other means of funding, including federal funds, the total budget for next fiscal year is $20.5 billion. A separate part of the budget appropriates money for capital improvement projects totaling $4.4 billion next fiscal year, including $1.4 billion in projects financed with state bonds.
The House draft of HB 1800 includes what Todd described as a nine-figure sum of state funding to replace expected federal funding losses for programs including SNAP and Medicaid.
鈥淭hese are really just in many ways unavoidable costs if we care about our people here,鈥� Todd (D, Hilo-Keaau-Ainaloa) said during a public hearing on the bill Wednesday.
A couple of the changes the committee made to Green鈥檚 proposed budget included reversing a $30 million subtraction to public school repair and maintenance, and cutting $100,000 the governor had proposed to pay for gubernatorial transition costs after the November general election in which Green could be reelected.
Green submitted his budget proposal to the Legislature in December, and that was reflected in the original version of HB 1800, which also includes some modifications to spending in the current fiscal year that ends June 30.
After the bill was introduced in January, Green requested additions that included $5 million for the University of 91直播 to pay student athletes for use of their name, image and likeness. Additions also included about 80 specific environmental improvement projects recommended to receive $130 million generated from the beginning of this year through June 30, 2027 via a special 鈥淕reen Fee鈥� funded by an increase and expansion of 91直播鈥檚 Transient Accommodations Tax.
Approving each Green Fee project, which the governor forwarded in January from a 10-member advisory council that reviewed applications, requires legislative approval.
The House Finance Committee included all the recommended projects in its draft of the budget bill except for three. Those three projects were essentially tasks for three state agencies to assess results of other projects in three portfolios at a cost of $500,000 for each portfolio. The committee instead approved $500,000 for one agency to do the same thing.
The committee also added some new items to the bill, including $6 million to continue exploration of new geothermal power development.
Todd said in a statement that he appreciates the governor鈥檚 efforts responding to fiscal challenges facing the state. 鈥淭hroughout this process, we worked to ensure we are not compounding long-term financial pressures while continuing to protect the health and safety of our residents,鈥� Todd said.
Spending items in the bill highlighted by the committee include:
鈥� $2.2 million to run the roughly year-old Office of State Fire Marshal.
鈥� $2.3 million to acquire and commission public works of art.
鈥� $5 million for University of 91直播 cancer research work.
鈥� $6 million for 91直播 State Hospital overtime expenses.
鈥� $6.2 million for automated speed and red light traffic enforcement.
鈥� $23 million for fire suppression systems at Honolulu and Maui airport rental car facilities.
鈥� $49.5 million for state costs to redevelop Aloha Stadium beyond $350 million previously conveyed for use by the project鈥檚 private developer.
鈥� $130 million for affordable rental housing projects.
鈥� $185 million to improve University of 91直播 facilities.
鈥� $234 million to improve public school facilities.
鈥� $365 million for airport improvement projects.
鈥� $651 million for highway improvements.