More trouble
for Hawaii schools

Hawaii is ranked third worst
in a forecast of education
deficits for the year 2006

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

Even as the state Department of Education seeks hundreds of millions of dollars more over the next two years for public schools, a new national study says the state will need to raise more revenues by the year 2006 just to maintain today's level of services.

And any cutbacks in federal funding will make it more difficult for the schools to keep existing programs, it said.

By 2006, Hawaii's expected state revenues will fall 15.1 percent short of expected costs to maintain today's education services, says the National Education Association study.

That deficit percentage makes Hawaii the third-worst in the nation, after Alaska and Nevada; the national average is a 3.8 percent deficit.

The study also puts Hawaii among 11 states that will need additional revenue of 1 percent per year over the next eight years to maintain existing services.

The report's projections of state spending and revenues confirm prior research citing the need to redesign state and local tax systems, the association said.

But Earl Anzai, state budget director, called the projections for Hawaii unrealistic. "We could never have a 15 percent deficit," he said. "Assuming we have a $3 billion budget now, 15 percent would be a $450 million deficit. We could never achieve what (the report's) saying." And the governor has given lower education his highest priority, Anzai said.

"We've been saying all along we're at the bottom of the list for the amount of state funds available for education," said Greg Knudsen, Department of Education spokesman. "We remain optimistic that given the state has limited resources, we would hope education would be seen in the proper perspective and receive the highest priority."

"Some states -- particularly those experiencing the strongest economic growth -- will face large shortfalls, while others will not, and some states will actually generate small surpluses," said Hal Hovey, president of State Policy Research, Inc., who prepared the study. "The future fiscal outlook for state and local governments nationwide is not good, but it represents a problem that ought to be manageable."

Because of the projected shortfalls, the nation's priorities in reducing class sizes, modernizing schools and ensuring quality teachers may be in jeopardy, said Bob Chase, National Education Association president.

The projected deficits will have far-reaching implications for everyone, said Danielle Lum, spokeswoman for the Hawaii State Teachers Association, an NEA affiliate.

Teachers are already making do with inadequate materials and funding. "And it's going to mean the community will have to step up their role in helping the schools survive."