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When the state House sent over its $14.4 billion biennium budget this week to the Senate, it also forwarded a separate two-year capital improvement budget that more than halves Gov. Ben Cayetano's touted billion-dollar construction plan. ‘Prudent’ House budget
slashes governor’s
construction planBy Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin
The proposed capital improvement budget is about $247 million in 2002 and $176 million in 2003, with a majority of projects for schools, the community colleges, hospitals and state parks.
"Here, we have exercised great prudence," said House Finance Chairman Dwight Takamine (D, Hilo).
"Authorizing bonds to finance public projects is the standard practice for addressing societal needs, but the committee is very mindful of the fact that for every bond issuance, we are making a long-term financial commitment," he said.
The projects forwarded by the House include $8 million to build and equip buildings at the Maui Research and Technology Center on Kihei for use by technology companies.
It also includes $2.4 million to replace the bascule, or drawbridge deck, on Sand Island Parkway. The work is needed to qualify for federal aid and possible federal reimbursement.
Elsewhere, the state will spend $400,000 to study the expansion to four lanes of Fort Barrette Road, which connects Kalaeloa with Farrington Highway. Area residents have complained about speeding and the lack of street lighting on portions of the two-lane road.
Inside what was the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station, the House proposed to spend $420,000 to provide water meter/services, equipment, two vehicles and some structure and landscaping improvements to two barracks what will not be used as homeless shelters.
Back in Manoa, House members put in $4.3 million to design and construct a basketball/volleyball pavilion next to the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawaii.
In other action this and next week at the state Capitol:
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday will discuss the nominations of Reinette W. Cooper to Maui District Court and Trudy K. Senda to the Kauai District Court.
Judging nominees
Honolulu Police Chief Lee D. Donohue appears before the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee on Tuesday as a gubernatorial nominee to the state Board of Private Detectives and Guards.
Donohue replaces former Big Island Police Chief Wayne Carvalho. His term expires June 30, 2005.
The state House is considering a Senate bill that repeals the final two increments in the 1998 law that drops the top state income tax rate to 8.25 percent from 10 percent on Jan. 1, 2002. In its place, the measure included an unspecified food tax credit.
Senate opponents call it a tax increase, while proponents say the state can't afford to continue the tax reductions at this time.
If the governor wants to turn Washington Place into a museum, he will have to do so with private funds. The House this week approved a state operating and construction budget that includes turning the governor's mansion into a museum, but only if private money is raised for the $2 million renovation.
A additional $1 million in private funds must be raised to build a new governor's residence at the rear of the property on Beretania Street.
The House majority says the House Republican minority, who comprise one-third of the House membership, misused its newfound powers when it rejected two bills this week that would have helped Science and Technology International, a 20-year-old Hawaii-based optical-imaging company, expand its business.
Majority leaders complained Republicans picked on a highly respected company that wants to increase the state's high tech presence as well as provide more local high-tech jobs.
"If the minority wants to claim this as a victory, then there must be a loser," said Majority Leader Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa).
"In this case, it's the entire state."
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