Governor discusses budget through 2017
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Legislature approved a two-year $26 billion budget in May. The governor’s new proposal could suggest changes to that spending plan.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Legislature approved a two-year $26 billion budget in May. The governor’s new proposal could suggest changes to that spending plan.
Gov. David Ige today unveiled his proposed $13 billion state budget for next year along with a construction budget that would launch $1.8 billion in new building projects into the already busy Hawaii economy.
Ige said his budget puts the state on a track to spend $3oo million more from the general treasury next year than it will collect in taxes or other revenues, but said state government had a large cash surplus of $828 million at the end of the last fiscal year that can be tapped to help cover the cost of his proposed spending plan.
Ige also announced a plan to accelerate payment on one of the state’s largest unfunded liabilities by setting aside $408 million next year to cover future health costs for public employee retirees and their spouses. That would be in addition to $360 million the state has already budgeted to provide health insurance for public workers, their dependents and retirees next year.
The budget includes $160 million to rebuild the Hawaii State Hospital for the mentally ill in Kaneohe, and $161 million to support affordable housing projects, Ige said.
Ige also announced he is proposing to add $248 million in additional support for education, “which remains one of my highest priorities, and one on which I know a lot more needs to be done.”
The budget also includes an additional $179 million in improvements to the Honolulu and Kona airports, Ige said.
The Legislature approved a two-year $26 billion budget in May.
21 responses to “Governor discusses budget through 2017”
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What the heck kind of news is this?
IS IT MORE THAN LAST YEAR ???? Why
Can we get a summary of his suggested changes? Very sketchy story!
I rather walk my puppies, than read some dumb government summary.
Sobriety returns to the State Budgeting process. This is a major story that few will even pay attention to. The current administration has delivered an 828 million dollar surplus. No tax increases. And if the Legislature can reign in spending urges, 2016 will end with a surplus. There is a plan in place to address unfunded liabilities; it will make a small but significant dent. Education gets a much-needed shot in the arm. Plus the construction economy gets a 1.8 billion dollar boost. While a lot more needs to be done, and the State faces serious challenges, Governor Ige has quietly delivered. A number of posters in this forum continuously see State Government under Ige’s leadership as ‘a glass half full’. Ige is not flashy to be sure. But the record is clear, particularly compared to the prior two administrations, fiscal progress is being made. If the Ige Administration is able to continue the policy of fiscal sobriety, maintain large surpluses without tax increases, and support economic growth, his re-election chances improve. In this forum there have been a number of posts declaring that Ige will be a one-term governor. While there is a long way to go; based on this first year with these numbers, Ige will be re-elected.
I agree. Sensible budgeting is what we need. I wish our Mayor could do this with the City’s money.
…heer. Are you trying to say something?
No
Unfortunately surplus money is a magnet for elected bureaucrats. Rather than being fiscally responsible, they feel this is money for new projects, new spending, taking care of their special interest bosses.
Case in point. In 1998, the $1.2 billion Hawaii won in the tobacco settlement money. Bureaucrats said it would all go to cover the costs of health issues from smoking, smoking reduction programs. They lied to us. The legislature halved the TTF cut to 12.5% to help pay for the new University of Hawai’i medical center in Kaka’ako. Same facility is now an endless money pit, total waste of money. Ref: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Apr/07/op/op01a.html
Already tapping in to the surplus, expect it to be reduced in half in no time, most likely gone by 2017. HSTA already has their eyes on tapping this reserve. It’s for the Keiki they whine. Not true. For union pay raises and bonuses, fund the educational bureaucracy.
Gov has published his spending priorities. They are:
1. Union retirement fund to cover pensions and medical care.
2. Union pay raises, benefits, insurance for all family members.
3. State government agencies & projects.
4. Cover the cost of extra internet bandwidth to allow state workers to watch Netflix & Hulu on state computers without all the buffering.
5. Everyone else get in line for the crumbs left over.
Just another day in the backwards Nei.
Surplus money is a magnet for the Public worker unions. They simply will not allow such a surplus to exist without getting their “unfunded liabilities” funded by the democratic party of Hawaii. The voters deserve what these corrupt politicians and their special interests are doing right out in the open. Keep voting for the same fools and expect a different result. Things are only getting worse.
It’s not just the governor, it’s the entire legislature. Civil service, unions, and health insurance and pensions for retirees are all “rights” of government workers protected in our state constitution. Yet the legislature NEVER submits a proposed constitutional amendment for the public to vote on to fix that. Instead, the legislature repeatedly tries to eliminate the 70-year mandatory retirement age of judges so that their cronies aren’t forced to step down when they turn 70. Never anything about curbing unions or their retirement benefits (which is defined benefit, not defined contribution, which is why it’s so hard for the state to budget for it). And we keep electing the same people over and over. The people of Hawaii deserve what they get.
And he wouldn’t give UH Athletics $3 mil? Very uninspiring.
If he raised the HI5 soda can fee to a HI10, we would have enough for everyone.
So, Is Hawaii just near broke? Is broke, or broke arsse?
Following Puerto Rico’s path into bankruptcy.
We’ve got an 800 million surplus but Ige just proposed to give it all and then some to the Public worker unions. 760 million just for health insurance coverage next year alone. Unsustainable! The unions are bleeding the state dry by funding the democratic party of Hawaii.
I don’t hear any Republicans here in Hawaii opposing what the Democrats are doing.
Well if there was any doubt before as to who owned this guy, there isn’t anymore. The Public worker Unions, particularly HSTA own him. These unions and the corrupt democratic party of Hawaii are going to bankrupt this state. 760 million dollars for medical insurance for union members and their families next year, and another 240 million to the DOE. What’s a billion here or there right. Just think about that, It’s but a matter of time before Ige will want to raise the GE tax as requested by the HSTA to continue this type of funding beyond next year. The State’s surplus won’t last for long with Ige giving it all to the Unions.
Right on the money. From the article: “he is proposing to add $248 million in additional support for education” — who here thinks “additional support for education” means anything but HSTA pay raises? Anybody?
If we make all the teachers millionaires then maybe our kids can learn something.
Ige looks like he will make a good and jolly Santa Clause.