HONOKAA, Hawaii >> The state Board of Education approved budget requests of up to $90 million a year for construction and a total of $60.9 million in increases during the next two years for departmental operations at a Big Island meeting last night. BOE seeks $90 million
for construction
By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.comBudget Chairwoman Karen Knudsen said the operating money is particularly needed for "health and safety issues."
Department spokesman Greg Knudsen said a person only has to look at deteriorating wooden school buildings on the neighbor islands to see where the construction money would go.
The requests will be forwarded to the governor and state budget officials for review and submitted to the Legislature as part of the proposed 2003-2005 budget.
The requests show more hope than expectation the department will get the full amounts.
The department's 10-year construction program calls for $120 million a year, said Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Al Suga. The department knows it won't get that amount, but it used to get $90 million per year, hence the size of the present request, Greg Knudsen said.
A smaller $45 million alternative will also be presented to the governor.
"We know the $45 million is not going to meet our needs," Greg Knudsen said.
The $60.9 million in operating funds for 2003-2005 represents increases of $32.8 million in the first year and $28.1 million in the second year. The department's operating budget for each year would total about $1.59 billion.
State Board of Education
