Holdup in drug
funding criticized

Lingle's budget chief
says some funds are
still being reviewed

State Rep. Dwight Takamine grilled Gov. Linda Lingle's budget director yesterday on the administration's failure to release all of the money approved to combat the state's crystal methamphetamine epidemic.

"It's not that we are holding up anything. They do their due diligence and make sure that all these programs that will receive money will have those results." Georgina Kawamura Budget director

To date, the administration has released $10.7 million of the $14.7 million included in the Legislature's omnibus "ice" appropriation bill to fund drug education, prevention and treatment programs. The money was available for release July 1 after Gov. Lingle allowed the bill to become law without her signature.

"Almost one-third of the funding is not released, almost six months into the fiscal year. We've heard complaints on the Big Island that more addicts result, in the form of 'ice' babies or other consequences," said Takamine, House Finance Committee chairman.

Takamine asked Budget Director Georgina Kawamura to provide spending criteria so lawmakers do not appropriate money that will not be released.

Kawamura said the administration reviews all funding to determine whether or not it will achieve its intended results before releasing any money. She said "ice" bill funds are under review by the lieutenant governor and the state departments of Health, Human Services and Public Safety.

"We continue to work with those departments," Kawamura said. "It's not that we are holding up anything. They do their due diligence and make sure that all these programs that will receive money will have those results."

Under the current system, departments submit their recommendations to Kawamura's department, which then submits them to the governor for her approval.

The largest chunk of money, $1.8 million, is for the Department of Health to fund adolescent drug-treatment programs. The administration has already released $1.2 million.

Other funds awaiting release include: