Money's tight but available for key projects

The Maui News
Monday, January 14, 2008

CLAUDINE SAN NICOLAS, staff writer

HONOLULU – Even with state revenue projections down, Maui County's three Democratic senators said they believe they can deliver money for the county's hospitals, harbors and public schools.

"I think money is the big issue this session," said Central Maui Sen. Shan Tsutsui, vice chairman of the Senate's Ways and Means Committee.

Sen. Roz Baker, who represents West Maui and South Maui, serves as the chairwoman of the Ways and Means Committee, while Sen. J. Kalani English sits on the same powerful money committee. He represents East Maui, Upcountry, Molokai and Lanai.

"I feel like we're already in session," Baker said Friday evening after returning from a week of meetings at the state Capitol. "There's been a lot of activity with budget briefings and other things."

This year's lawmaking session begins Wednesday.

The state's latest Council on Revenues report cites a decline in tourism and fallout from the national housing crisis as factors in cutting back earlier predictions for the fiscal year from 5.7 percent growth to 4.9 percent.

This decline of less than 1 percent means roughly $40 million less is expected to come into the state coffers.

"I just think we're going to have to be cautious and scrutinize costs," Baker said. "Certainly the hospitals, education and some human services will get funded."

All three senators said a revenue downturn is an opportune time to complete projects already in the works.

These could include construction of a new public high school in Kihei, improvements at Kahului Harbor and the expansion and further modernization of facilities at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Tsutsui pointed out that the state Legislature has been supporting capital improvement projects in Kapolei, Oahu, one of the fastest-growing communities in the state.

"I think Maui is right up there next to them," he said.

All three senators said they support Gov. Linda Lingle's plans to improve harbor infrastructure statewide, including massive improvements at Kahului Harbor. Those Kahului Harbor improvements include transforming the harbor's west breakwater from a mostly open area to a bustling port with a breakwater extension to block ocean swells, a ferry/barge slip with a terminal building and a cruise ship terminal. Also, more land is being sought by the state for expansion of the east side of the harbor with a new east breakwater, upgrades to the Pier 1 fuel line and strengthening of Pier 2B.

There are other smaller projects, according to English, that also should get funding. For example, he called for harbor improvements in Hana and the completion of a six-classroom building on Lanai.

"Frankly, they deserve it," English said, referring to the classrooms. He said Lanai High and Elementary School's enrollment has been dipping in recent years, but future housing development plans show there could be an upturn once those projects are built.

Baker said she would like to see grant money funneled to the domestic violence referral and assistance program in West Maui, plus additional funding to complete the long-awaited Lahainaluna High School cafeteria.

She said she's also looking at sponsoring legislation to provide more money to the state departments of Agriculture and Land and Natural Resources for training, equipment and personnel.

As far as nonmoney bills, Tsutsui said he's eager to receive the official report of the Maui Health Care Initiative Task Force. As of Friday, the Lingle administration was still reviewing the report and planned to include it as part of her State of the State address.

Tsutsui expressed interest in writing legislation based on the task force's reports on Maui County's health care needs and a plan to address them.

"It would be great to bring them to the Legislature and have a discussion," he said.

Baker said she's seen excerpts from parts of the task force's report and is also interested in looking at ideas to improve the existing state health care plan and facilities for Maui County.

English said he appreciates the work the task force volunteers put into drafting the report and was open to incorporating some of its ideas into legislation, if needed.

During the Legislature's break, English assumed the role of vice chairman of a new Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture. He said he and Vice Chairwoman Jill Tokuda of Kaneohe, Oahu, visited small farms on Molokai and Lanai and are exploring ways to assist the farmers in those areas.

With a Jan. 23 cutoff date to introduce bills, Maui's senators said there's still time for constituents to make their needs known, and the lawmakers themselves are continually working on their own legislative packages.

Claudine San Nicolas can be reached at claudine@mauinews.com.

Copyright © 2005 The Maui News.

Original article URL: http://www.mauinews.com/news/2008/1/14/01money0114.html

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