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HILO>>Big Island representatives are meeting with residents this week to explain how they balanced the state’s budget and erased a $1.2 billion projected shortfall.
Reps. Jerry Chang, Clift Tsuji, Faye Hanohano and Robert Herkes will discuss the budget at the University of Hawaii-Hilo on Wednesday. They’ll be joined by House Finance Committee Chairman Marcus Oshiro.
Furloughs of government workers made up a large part of the deficit, saving the state about $367 million over two years.
Tax measures will generate $147 million.
The rest of the budget will be balanced by higher-than-expected tax collections, last year’s layoffs of about 800 public workers, departmental cuts, capital improvement project lapses and non-general fund changes.
