{"id":140847,"date":"2021-05-06T09:59:37","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T19:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=140847"},"modified":"2026-04-24T10:13:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:13:38","slug":"2021-legislative-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/05\/06\/2021-legislative-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"2021 legislative recap: 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>\u02bbs overall budget cut by almost 10%"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Hawaii<\/p>\n

\"\"
Kalbert Young<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kalbert Young<\/strong>, 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the Hawaiʻi<\/span> State Legislature 2021 session.<\/em><\/p>\n

The 2021 Legislature adjourned on April 29, after passing more than 260 bills, which the governor will now consider for enactment. Some of these bills will impact the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> either directly or indirectly.<\/p>\n

This was the first year of the Legislature\u2019s biennium (two-year cycle). Since lingering tax revenue impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are still a major factor on the state budget, and federal stimulus aid has recently been enacted to help the state, the budget bill was arguably the most significant measure of the session. The following will highlight components of the budget as it relates to 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> and identify some possible funding impacts to our campuses. In addition to the budget overview, I will also highlight a few other significant measures that passed the Legislature this session.<\/p>\n

Operating budget<\/h2>\n

HB 200 CD<\/abbr>1, the biennium budget bill, passed the Legislature and has been transmitted to the governor for his consideration. The table below compares the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> items funded by the legislature and what was requested by the Board of Regents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Campus<\/th>\nDescription<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Board<\/th>\nCD1<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
FY22<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY23<\/th>\nFY22<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY23<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\n糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Athletics<\/td>\n$3,600,000<\/td>\n$3,600,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\n糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo Athletics<\/td>\n$400,000<\/td>\n$400,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges <\/td>\nHawaiʻi<\/span> Promise Program<\/td>\n$700,000<\/td>\n$700,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <\/td>\nAdd (3) Positions and Funds for HIMB<\/abbr><\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$197,228<\/td>\n$197,228<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <\/td>\nReduce (1) filled position and funds<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($343,800)<\/td>\n($343,800)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nAdd Funds for Athletics<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$105,895 <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <\/td>\nTransfer funds to new 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Cancer Center Program ID<\/abbr><\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($3,098,055)<\/td>\n($3,098,055)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Cancer Center (new)<\/td>\nTransfer-in from 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$3,098,055<\/td>\n$3,098,055<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\nAdd (2) Positions and Funds<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$164,394<\/td>\n$164,394<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nAdd (3) Positions and Funds<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$160,000<\/td>\n$220,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nReduce Funds<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($35,600,000)<\/td>\n($30,000,000)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
JABSOM<\/abbr><\/td>\nReduce Funds<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($1,200,000)<\/td>\n($1,200,000)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nReduce Funds<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($2,280,000)<\/td>\n($2,280,000)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\nReduce Funds<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($1,080,000)<\/td>\n($1,080,000)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nReduce Funds<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($4,600,000)<\/td>\n($4,600,000)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Systemwide Support<\/td>\nReduce Funds<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($3,391,232)<\/td>\n($3,391,232)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\nTotal<\/strong><\/td>\n$4,700,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$4,700,000<\/strong><\/td>\n($47,867,515)<\/strong><\/td>\n($42,313,410)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

American Rescue Plan Act Add-ons<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Campus<\/th>\n Description <\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Board<\/th>\nCD1<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
FY22<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY23<\/th>\nFY22<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY23<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nAdd Funds for 糖心Vlog官方ERO<\/abbr><\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$1,200,000 <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aquarium <\/td>\nAdd Funds for Waik\u012bk\u012b Aquarium<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$1,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nAdd Funds for Hawaiʻi<\/span> Promise<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$1,300,000 <\/td>\n$1,300,000 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is important to note that the Board of Regents budget request for $4.7 million per year was not for new funding, but to continue funding for currently operating programs at the university\u2014notably support for athletics programs at 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa and 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo and funding for the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Promise Program<\/a> at the community colleges.<\/p>\n

Instead of providing general fund additions, the Legislature reduced 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>\u2019s general fund budget by $47.9 million in the first year of the biennium and $42.3 million in the second year. (It should be noted that the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Promise Program did receive support from federal funds appropriated to the state.) To put this reduction in perspective, these cuts are nearly 10% of 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>\u2019s general fund appropriations of approximately $500 million annually. At the start of 2021, all state departments were anticipating that funding was going to be a challenge. Some of that sentiment eased during the legislative session with the emergence of significant federal stimulus aid to the state. However, the end product of the budget passed by the Legislature does not reflect a balanced or thoughtful approach to the overall 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> budget.<\/p>\n

As is clearly evident, the budget passed by the Legislature demonstrates an approach that disproportionately reduces funding to the university. 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, by far, is the most severely impacted in the budget since it will have the largest amount of general funding reduction (-$35.6 million in FY<\/abbr>22), as well as the largest percentage reduction than any other campus—approximately -13.8% of their current budget. A relative comparison of all campuses within the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> system shows that the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa general fund appropriation is approximately $210 million, or 42% of the total 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> general fund budget, while their $35 million reduction represents 74% of the total cut to 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

The Legislature provided federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA<\/abbr>) funding to three specific areas for a total of $3.5 million in FY<\/abbr>22 and $1.3 million in FY<\/abbr>23. However, $1.3 million in ARPA<\/abbr> funding is to replace reductions of general funds for the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Promise Program. Not included in the legislatively-appropriated budget are Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF<\/abbr>) included as part of the three federal coronavirus response packages, and granted as federal assistance to campuses and student aid. Some HEERF<\/abbr> monies may have to be reallocated to supplant general fund reductions.<\/p>\n

Capital improvement projects<\/h2>\n

HB 200 CD<\/abbr>1 provided a moderate funding level for the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> System to address capital improvement projects and deferred maintenance, which has been consistently a major historical area of concern for the university. The Legislature appropriated $230.4 million in FY<\/abbr>22 and $102.6 million in FY<\/abbr>23 in general obligation bonds for the following projects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Campus<\/th>\nProject Title<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Board<\/th>\nCD1<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
FY22<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY23<\/th>\nFY22<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY23<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> System<\/td>\nRenew, Improve and Modernize<\/td>\n$110,500,000<\/td>\n$110,500,000 <\/td>\n$51,800,000 <\/td>\n$47,640,000 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nCapital Renewal and Deferred Maintenance<\/td>\n$25,000,000<\/td>\n$25,000,000<\/td>\n$25,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nMinor CIP<\/abbr><\/td>\n$25,000,000<\/td>\n$25,000,000<\/td>\n$15,000,000<\/td>\n$20,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo <\/td>\nRenew, Improve and Modernize<\/td>\n$24,000,000<\/td>\n$13,500,000<\/td>\n$1,300,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <\/td>\nM\u0101noa Mini Master Plan Phase 2<\/td>\n$60,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$35,000,000<\/td>\n$35,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nHonolulu CC<\/abbr> Technology Renovations<\/td>\n$15,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$15,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aquaria<\/td>\nWaik\u012bk\u012b Aquarium<\/td>\n$1,500,000<\/td>\n$9,000,000<\/td>\n$1,500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nADA<\/abbr> Upgrades<\/td>\n$14,000,000<\/td>\n$14,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\nRenew, Improve and Modernize<\/td>\n$3,000,000<\/td>\n$3,000,000<\/td>\n$3,500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nWindward CC<\/abbr> Agripharmatech Bioprocessing Facility<\/td>\n$3,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$3,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <\/td>\nCentral Admin Facility with Parking<\/td>\n$4,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\nPlanning Projects<\/td>\n$500,000<\/td>\n$500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nKapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>–Kokiʻo<\/span><\/td>\n$2,500,000<\/td>\n$30,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\n糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Maui College Vocational Tech<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$2,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nCTAHR<\/abbr>–Waialeʻe<\/span> Research Station<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$1,600,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nMaunakea Telescope Removal (H\u014dk\u016b Keʻa<\/span>)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$900,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nResource and Education Center<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$42,500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> System<\/td>\nMakai Research Pier<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$5,550,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nLyon Arboretum<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$1,200,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nProof of Concept for Maui Health System<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\nTotal<\/strong><\/td>\n$288,000,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$232,500,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$203,350,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$102,640,000<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Additional projects—either not General Obligation Bonds or not in 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Campus<\/th>\nProject Title<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Board<\/th>\nCD1<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
FY22<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY23<\/th>\nFY22<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY23<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nRenew, Improve and Modernize (American Rescue Plan Act Funds)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$8,700,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\nWarehouses for Dept. of Agriculture<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$28,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Overall, the amount of capital funding support in the budget is decent and appreciation can be extended to the Legislature for its level of support. The funding should help to address some of the capital needs across the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> System. The amount of work left is still substantial, and the level of funding is still short of addressing immediate reduction of 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>\u2019s deferred maintenance backlog.<\/p>\n

While we can be appreciative of the level of funding provided, there were also a few projects that were not requested by 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>, yet they were put into the university\u2019s budget. For example, $42.5 million has been provided to construct a Resource and Education Center, which was not requested by the Board, and it is unclear what this project entails. Additionally, $28.0 million was appropriated by the Legislature to the Department of Agriculture, but 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> is the “expending agency” for these funds. Again, it is unclear what the purpose of this project is or how it relates to 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>. It is unclear as to the extent that these funding choices of the Legislature came at the expense of funding other actually needed 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> priorities.<\/p>\n

糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> legislative package<\/h2>\n

As mentioned in my last update<\/a>, 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> submitted a number of bills for consideration this session. Others arose within the Legislature itself. Several consequential measures did pass the Legislature, although in a rather complicated and convoluted form.<\/p>\n

SB<\/abbr>589 CD<\/abbr>1 went through many variations before the final product was passed by the Legislature. In the end, there are five parts to this bill:<\/p>\n