UHPA urges tapping
hurricane fund

The faculty union says the only
alternative would hurt education

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By Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com

The union representing University of Hawaii professors and instructors, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, is calling on the Legislature to spend all the money in the state Hurricane Relief Fund to help balance the budget.

Gov. Ben Cayetano's budget calls for using the entire $213 million in the fund, but the idea is meeting resistance both the House and Senate.

The House approved spending $100 million of the fund earlier this week for specific projects, but there is still concern in the Senate about actually balancing the budget by tapping the fund.

UHPA joined the lobbying yesterday to get the Legislature to spend the money.

Noting there "is no other way to balance the budget," UHPA said the only options are to cut education or funds to the university.

"The way out ought not be cutting education services. Our education services are already at the bottom. Cut UH any more and it falls apart," said John Radcliffe, UHPA associate executive director.

Sen. Brian Taniguchi, Senate Ways and Means Committee chairman, however, cautioned that before the Senate launches a raid on the hurricane fund, it had to be sure there is support.

"We are struggling to find a replacement for that $200 million hole created by not transferring the money.

"We held statewide hearings, and basically the word we got back was not to touch the fund, so we are going to have to educate people about what the consequences are if we don't use the fund -- budget cuts," Taniguchi said.

But Sen. Sam Slom, Republican leader, said neither the move in the House to tie the money to specific programs nor UHPA's call to just spend it convinced him.

"The little charade the House Democrats are going through to scare everyone just plays on everyone's fears," said Slom (R, Hawaii Kai).

And Senate President Robert Bunda added that he could see that UHPA "had a stake in the budget," but doubted that the position "reflects the majority of the population."

"The Legislature will still have to look at other alternatives," said Bunda (D, Wahiawa-North Shore).

UH Professional Assembly