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The state House of Representatives on Wednesday forwarded to the Senate a $13.3 billion general fund budget for the next two fiscal years.
The spending plan calls for a $6.5 billion budget in fiscal 2016, which begins July 1, and $6.8 billion in fiscal 2017.
The House also advanced a biennial capital improvements budget of $2.23 billion — $1.47 billion next year and $755 million in 2017.
"Whether we’re talking about CIP or operating funds, our mindset in the House remains the same: to spend within our means as a matter of consistent practice," House Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke (D, Punchbowl-Pauoa-Nuuanu) said. "In the case of capital expenditures, we also need to consider that the money we use today on much-needed repairs and maintenance — and in some cases to build a new facility — can in the long run save us money. Like our unfunded liabilities, delaying spending would be akin to kicking the proverbial can down the road.
The operating budget includes $3.8 million for public school teacher recruitment and retention in hard-to-fill locations; $11.55 million for charter school per pupil funding; $7.7 million to maintain existing ambulance service levels; $2.6 million to maintain current general assistance monthly payments; $3 million for the state hospital system to address existing financial issues; $72.1 million for special maintenance projects at Hawaii airports; and $70.9 million for highway road repair and maintenance projects.
The CIP budget includes $50 million to the Rental Housing Trust Fund to help finance new affordable rental housing units statewide; $62.8 million for construction of a new veterans long-term care facility on Oahu; $10 million for the modernization of the Farrington High School campus; $32 million for facility repairs and maintenance, upgrades and improvement at Hawaii Healthy System Corp. hospitals; $55 million for the construction of a new Kona Judiciary complex; $21 million for Kahului Harbor improvements; $9 million for a new aircraft rescue and firefighting station at Kalaupapa Airport on Molokai; and $15 million for repair and maintenance for Hawaii island’s Highway 130.