Posted on: Thursday, July 10, 2003

No quick decision expected by Lingle on override money

Advertiser Staff

State budget director Georgina Kawamura said yesterday that she did not expect Gov. Linda Lingle to decide whether to release money on vetoed bills that were overridden by the Legislature until after the next Council on Revenues meeting in September.

Kawamura noted that the state is facing a $152 million budget shortfall and said she and the governor would have to carefully review the state's revenue picture before deciding how to address the overrides.

"Right now, we don't have the ability to pay" for additional appropriations, Kawamura said.

On Tuesday, the Legislature overruled Lingle's vetoes on six bills, including one that provided $3.6 million for social service programs.

The governor has the option of not releasing money under those measures.