House approves $10 billion Hawaii state budget with $50 million to end school furloughs
The state House voted today on a $10 billion state budget that is $41.2 million less than what Gov. Linda Lingle requested.
The budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 includes $50 million to reduce teacher furloughs at public schools but, overall, makes cuts to public education, including $18 million from the state Department of Educations weighted student formula that will likely lead to increased class size.
The budget also strips $10 million from the University of Hawaiçi.
Lawmakers restored $3 million for public libraries and would preserve about 1,000 state jobs that Lingle wanted to eliminate, including positions for child protective services and agricultural inspectors.
The budget now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
