JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
GOVERNOR GREEN BALANCES FINANCIAL PLAN AND SIGNS BUDGET THAT INVESTS IN HAWAIʻI’S PRIORITIES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2024
HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green, M.D., today signed House Bill 1800 (HB 1800), the supplemental budget bill which amends Act 164, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2023 and appropriates funds for Executive Branch operations and capital improvement projects (CIP). The budget appropriates $19.1 billion across all means of financing, including more than $10.3 billion in general funds for operating support for fiscal year 2025. For CIP, $4.5 billion is appropriated across all means of financing including $1.4 billion in general obligation bond funds for construction projects statewide. HB 1800 represents an increase of more than $480 million in general funds for fiscal year 2025, with significant funding in key priority areas for the state.
“This budget makes historical investments in affordable housing, health care, climate and education – all of our big priority areas as a state. It will provide over $200 million for Maui’s recovery efforts through the Major Disaster Fund. In addition to what is funded in the budget, we passed historical tax reform this session which will put more money into the pockets of local families to combat inflation,” said Governor Green.
“Building affordable housing, giving more money back to families through the tax plan and boosting our social services and access to health care will allow more families to be able to afford to stay here in Hawai‘i and to thrive in our island home.
Included in HB 1800 were line-item budget reductions and vetoes totaling $74.2 million for operating and $79.5 million for CIP in general funds, representing less than 1% of the total state budget. These reductions are part of a larger plan that reduced other appropriation bills to rebalance the state’s finances and maintain stable reserves. These items were identified because they have other sources of funding available or were not feasible given funding timelines and department capacity.
Last year, the Governor issued line-item budget reductions and adjustments totaling $1 billion dollars. This year, Governor Green issued more than $500 million in adjustments to balance the financial plan and ensure a strong carryover balance while maintaining a $1.5 billion rainy day fund.
The top five priority areas funded through appropriations in the budget are:
Developing Affordable Housing and Reducing Homelessness
Housing continues to be a major issue for the state and its residents. Families continue to leave the state because of a lack of affordable housing. With 21 kauhale (tiny village homes) and 13,000 new affordable units set to be built by 2026, the Green Administration has demonstrated its deep commitment to building housing for all Hawaiʻi residents, especially for its most vulnerable groups.
This budget continues the administration’s multipronged approach by funding:
Investing in Hawaiʻi’s Health Care Systems
Access to quality care is a key pillar of Governor Green’s The Hawaiʻi We Deserve policy framework. Ensuring that all residents have access to high-quality, comprehensive health care services is vital to the well-being and resilience of our people.
With the recently expanded HELP program to provide loan repayment assistance to Hawaiʻi’s healthcare professionals as well as unprecedented private investments into our statewide health care systems, the Green Administration is committed to making historical investments into our health care system. This will create positive downstream effects in building resilient and healthy communities and generate long-term cost-savings for the state by providing upfront access to quality health care services.
This budget includes:
Preserving our ‘Āina for Generations to Come
As one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the world, Hawaiʻi serves a critical role in leading global environmental protection and ecological conservation efforts and policies. Through the efforts of state agencies such as the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawai‘i State Energy Office and the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, as well as newly formed working groups such as the Governor’s Climate Action Team (CAT), the Green Administration is committed to comprehensive plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition energy infrastructure to renewable sources and invest in policies to combat and remove invasive species across our islands.
To further the state’s commitments to environmental conservation, this budget includes:
Educating our Keiki and Investing in Hawaiʻi’s Future
Educating our keiki and ensuring that our state’s educators, classrooms, and programs are adequately equipped and resourced is a major area of focus for the Green Administration. Through negotiating fair deals with our teachers to combat our state’s public school teacher shortage, developing teacher housing statewide and investing in programs for our keiki, Governor Green’s comprehensive approach is supporting our education system.
To further the state’s commitment to education, this budget includes:
Healing and Resilience for Maui
In August 2023, we witnessed one of the worst natural disasters to affect our state. Over the last year, the Green Administration has led a comprehensive disaster response, which has shifted into the recovery and rebuilding phases. Through building temporary housing for survivors, creating the One ʻOhana Fund for victims and their families, investing in public infrastructure in affected communities and funding measures to mitigate and prevent future wildfire risk, the state of Hawaiʻi is committed to the long-term recovery efforts. This budget contains more than $200 million in general fund appropriations that will be deposited into the Major Disaster Fund to support Maui wildfire recovery efforts, including those prioritized by the Legislature this session.
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Media Contacts:
Erika Engle
Press Secretary
Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
Office: 808-586-0120
Email: [email protected]
Makana McClellan
Director of Communications
Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
Cell: 808-265-0083
Email: [email protected]