BOE seeks additional $31.9M
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
A key committee of the state Board of Education yesterday gave preliminary approval to a budget that seeks $31.9 million more for the upcoming fiscal year than recommended by the Lingle administration.
That's an increase of about 1.8 percent over the estimated $1.7 billion "base budget" the public school system is getting in the current fiscal year. The Lingle administration is asking the board and all other state agencies not to seek any more for the upcoming budget than its current base budget.
Besides the extra $31.9 million for the 2006 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2005, the board's Committee of the Whole on Budget and Fiscal Accountability approved a recommendation seeking $40 million more for fiscal 2007.
The recommendation is expected to be approved by the full Board of Education when it meets on Lana'i tomorrow.
Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto said after the meeting the additional funding is "critical ... as we reinvent education in Hawai'i to meet student achievement and raise our scores."
The state, she said, will be "buying a system that provides for you not only an improvement in student achievement, but a system that is accountable and will be public. It should not be an unfunded mandate."
Included in the request is money for the new Reinventing Education program sought by Hamamoto and pushed through the Legislature by majority Democrats this past session despite a veto attempt by Gov. Linda Lingle. The administration has released only about $7 million so far of $11.8 million earmarked by the Legislature to reduce class size, buy more math books and make other changes.
State Budget Director Georgina Kawamura, in a rare appearance before the school board, said yesterday the administration was still reviewing funds that had not been released.
"We are in the mode of reconsideration," she said.
Her comments touched off a lively exchange with several board members who expressed frustration with the administration over withholding of the money.
"How long more do we have to wait?" asked board chairman Breene Harimoto. "I just get an uncomfortable feeling that the process is dragging on."
Board member Shannon Ajifu said she had been told the administration was waiting for the state Council on Revenues to project a rosy economic forecast in September before agreeing to release the additional funding. Not only had the council given a strong projection, she said, state tax officials had stated that collections were coming in higher than anticipated.
"Now you're telling me you're still looking for sustainability ... how long do you have to wait?"
Responded Kawamura: "That's our due-diligence responsibility." She noted that the additional money being sought was for recurring programs that would be added to the base budget each year.
The committee also voted to recommend a capital improvement budget of about $400 million for the coming year. The amount includes $100 million in repairs and maintenance that previously was part of the Department of Accounting and General Services budget. Responsibility for repairs and maintenance of school facilities is gradually being transferred to the Department of Education.
Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
