Kalbert Young, UH vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the legislative session through the First Crossover deadline.
Here is an update on the 2023 legislative session through the First Crossover deadline, including a highlight on the progress through the Legislature for the University of Hawaiʻi’s budget request.
March 9 was the First Crossover deadline where bills had to move into the non-originating chamber (Senate bills crossover to the House of Representatives, and House bills crossover to the Senate) to continue on in the legislative process. More than 3,132 bills were introduced this session, with close to 799 of those either directly affecting or indirectly impacting UH.
The biennial budget bill (HB 300 HD1) completed its deliberation in the House on March 8, 2023 and has since crossed over to the Senate for their deliberation and amendments. Next, it will be shortly revised by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. In November 2022, the UH Board of Regents (BOR) approved a biennial budget request that was submitted to the governor and separately to the Legislature, parts of which were included in the House version of the budget.
The BOR-approved request totaled $52.3 million in additional general funds for Fiscal Year 2023–24 (FY24) and $59.4 million in additional general funds for Fiscal Year 2024–25 (FY25). Of these amounts, more than $17.5 million is for restoration of general funds that were reduced in 2021, and $3.6 million for the return of support for athletics and other campus operations. The House works on the budget before the Senate and has approved virtually the entire request by the governor and added approximately $53.0 million for FY24 and $50.5 million for FY25 to UH.
We are extremely thankful for the support we received from the House in the restoration of the budget cuts along with funding for other programs such as expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise Program, health industry initiatives, including expanding graduate medical education for JABSOM workforce development, to name a few.
The following table shows the biennial operating budget comparison between the board, governor and House:
| Campus | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Regents | Governor | House | |||||
| FY24 $$$ | FY25 $$$ | FY24 $$$ | FY25 $$$ | FY24 $$$ | FY25 $$$ | ||
| RESTORATION OF FUNDS | |||||||
| UH Mānoa | General Fund Restoration | $5,600,000 | $5,600,000 | $5,600,000 | $5,600,000 | $5,600,000 | $5,600,000 |
| JABSOM | General Fund Restoration | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 |
| UH Hilo | General Fund Restoration | $3,420,000 | $3,420,000 | $3,420,000 | $3,420,000 | $3,420,000 | $3,420,000 |
| UH West Oʻahu | General Fund Restoration | $1,620,000 | $1,620,000 | $1,620,000 | $1,620,000 | $1,620,000 | $1,620,000 |
| UH System Administration | General Fund Restoration | $5,086,848 | $5,086,848 | $5,086,848 | $5,086,848 | $5,086,848 | $5,086,848 |
| SUSTAINED FUNDING | |||||||
| UH Mānoa | Athletics Subsidy Continuation | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 |
| UH Hilo | Athletics Subsidy Continuation | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
| UH Mānoa | HIMB Full Year Funding | $85,500 | $85,500 | $85,500 | $85,500 | $85,500 | $85,500 |
| JABSOM | GME Residency Full Year Funding | $1,670,000 | $1,670,000 | $660,000 | $660,000 | $660,000 | $660,000 |
| JABSOM | Neighbor Island MD Expansion Continuation | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| HAWAIʻI PROMISE PROGRAM | |||||||
| UH Mānoa | Hawaiʻi Promise Expansion | $12,300,000 | $12,300,000 | $12,300,000 | $12,300,000 | $12,300,000 | $12,300,000 |
| UH Hilo | Hawaiʻi Promise Expansion | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 |
| UH West Oʻahu | Hawaiʻi Promise Expansion | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
| UH Community Colleges | Hawaiʻi Promise Continuation | $3,700,000 | $3,700,000 | $3,700,000 | $3,700,000 | $3,700,000 | $3,700,000 |
| CAMPUS FACILITIES AND CORE SERVICES | |||||||
| UH Hilo | Security Officers | $313,320 | $313,320 | ||||
| UH West Oʻahu | Security Officers | $30,900 | $61,800 | ||||
| UH Community Colleges | Security Officers | $693,780 | $1,456,938 | $693,780* | $1,456,938* | $1 | $1 |
| UH Hilo | IT Support | $160,000 | $160,000 | ||||
| UH Hilo | Analytical Lab Manager | $80,000 | $80,000 | ||||
| UH West Oʻahu | Campus and ACM Support | $162,996 | $325,992 | ||||
| EARLY COLLEGE EXPANSION | |||||||
| UH Community Colleges | Early College Expansion | $577,500 | $1,212,750 | ||||
| UH West Oʻahu | Early College Expansion | $90,000 | $180,000 | ||||
| UH System Admin | Early College Expansion | $90,000 | $180,000 | ||||
| INITIATIVE: SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS | |||||||
| UH West Oʻahu | Student Success Support | $261,252 | $522,504 | ||||
| UH Community Colleges | UH Maui College-Health Center | $98,500 | $200,250 | $98,500 | $200,250 | $98,500 | $200,250 |
| UH Community Colleges | UH Maui College-Distance Learning | $73,500 | $147,750 | ||||
| UH Mānoa | Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu Undergraduate Research Initiative | $721,600 | $1,058,400 | ||||
| UH Hilo | Transfer Center | $60,000 | $60,000 | ||||
| UH Hilo | Career Advising and Internship Administration | $60,000 | $60,000 | ||||
| UH Community Colleges | Windward CC-Incarcerated Students | $125,500 | $241,550 | ||||
| UH Community Colleges | Hawaiʻi CC-Incarcerated Students | $37,500 | $78,750 | ||||
| ADDRESS AREAS OF STATE NEED | |||||||
| UH Hilo | Administration of Justice Program Expansion | $142,000 | $142,000 | ||||
| UH Hilo | MA Teaching Expansion and Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education | $210,000 | $210,000 | ||||
| UH Hilo | MA Counseling Psychology | $210,000 | $210,000 | ||||
| UH Hilo | CAFNRM Sustainable Agribusiness | $100,000 | $100,000 | ||||
| UH West Oʻahu | Teacher Preparation | $70,676 | $141,352 | ||||
| INDUSTRY INITIATIVE: HEALTH | |||||||
| UH West Oʻahu | Health and Wellness | $147,158 | $294,316 | $147,158 | $294,316 | $147,158 | $294,316 |
| UH Mānoa | Health Science Initiative | $477,009 | $688,473 | $477,009 | $688,473 | $477,009 | $688,473 |
| UH Community Colleges | Kapiʻolani CC-Allied Health Professions and NI Expansion | $761,000 | $761,000 | $761,000 | $761,000 | $761,000 | $761,000 |
| UH Community Colleges | Windward CC–CNA Program Support | $86,000 | $86,000 | $86,000 | $86,000 | ||
| UH Community Colleges | Kauaʻi CC-Medical Assisting Program Support | $232,000 | $232,000 | $232,000 | $232,000 | $232,000 | $232,000 |
| UH Community Colleges | Kapiʻolani CC-Nursing Clinical Faculty | $259,998 | $259,998 | $259,998 | $259,998 | $259,998 | $259,998 |
| UH Community Colleges | Hawaiʻi CC-Nursing Program Maintenance & Expansion | $474,000 | $474,000 | $474,000 | $474,000 | $474,000 | $474,000 |
| UH Community Colleges | Kauaʻi CC-Nursing Faculty | $258,000 | $258,000 | $258,000 | $258,000 | ||
| UH Community Colleges | UH Maui College-Nursing Faculty | $172,000 | $172,000 | $172,000 | $172,000 | $172,000 | $172,000 |
| UH Community Colleges | UH Maui College-CNA to LPN Program Support | $86,000 | $86,000 | $86,000 | $86,000 | $86,000 | $86,000 |
| UH Mānoa | UH West Oʻahu–UH Mānoa Nursing Collaboration | $503,000 | $503,000 | $503,000 | $503,000 | ||
| UH Mānoa | NAWSON Programs and Training Support | $661,430 | $661,430 | $661,430 | $661,430 | $661,430 | $661,430 |
| UH Hilo | Nursing Faculty Support | $198,000 | $198,000 | $198,000 | $198,000 | ||
| UH Mānoa | Adjust UH West Oʻahu–UH Mānoa NAWSON Collaboration Request | $423,000* | $1 | ||||
| UH Hilo | Adjust UH Hilo School of Nursing Request | $430,306* | $461,717* | $1 | $1 | ||
| UH Mānoa | Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health-Training Hubs | $457,000* | $457,000* | $1 | $1 | ||
| UH Mānoa | UH West Oʻahu–UH Mānoa NAWSON Collaboration Request | $628,306* | $659,717* | $1 | $1 | ||
| UH Hilo | UH Hilo Nursing Faculty | $503,000* | $926,000* | $1 | $1 | ||
| GOVERNOR’S ADD-ONS | |||||||
| UH Mānoa | Restore Funds for Previously Unfunded Positions | $6,073,157 | $6,073,157 | ||||
| JABSOM | Restore Funds for Previously Unfunded Positions | $926,843 | $926,843 | ||||
| UH Cancer Center | Restore Funds for Previously Unfunded Positions | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | ||||
| UH Hilo | Restore Funds for Previously Unfunded Positions | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | ||||
| UH West Oʻahu | Restore Funds for Previously Unfunded Positions | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | ||||
| HOUSE ADD-ONS | |||||||
| UH Community Colleges | Office of International and Regional Partnerships Study Abroad Program | $15,000 | |||||
| UH Community Colleges | Placeholder amounts for Transfers | $12 | $12 | ||||
| UH System Administration | IT Equipment | $75,000 | $75,000 | ||||
| TOTAL | $56,266,967 | $59,399,921 | $63,698,835 | $65,831,187 | $50,031,460 | $50,476,833 | |
*Items were added to the Executive Request by Gov. Green after the December submission to the Legislature.
On the UH capital improvement projects (CIP) budget, the UH request was for $262.5 million for FY24 and $296 million in FY25 in additional General Obligation Bonds to address capital renewal, progress on deferred maintenance and funding for projects to modernize each of the campuses within the UH System. HB 300 HD1 includes $101.3 million for FY24 and $112.5 million for FY25 in General Obligation Bond funding for various projects, in addition to $79 million for FY24 and $75 million for FY25 in General Funds
The following table shows the CIP budget comparison between the board, governor and House:
| Campus | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Regents | Governor Request | House | |||||
| FY24 $$$ | FY25 $$$ | FY24 $$$ | FY25 $$$ | FY24 $$$ | FY25 $$$ | ||
| UH System Administration | Renew, Improve and Modernize (GO Bonds) | $100,000,000 | $100,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 |
| UH System Administration | Renew, Improve and Modernize (General Funds) | $30,000,000 | $30,000,000 | $30,000,000 | $30,000,000 | ||
| UH Hilo | Renew, Improve and Modernize (GO Bonds) | $17,500,000 | $26,500,000 | $17,500,000 | $26,500,000 | $10,000,000 | $26,500,000 |
| UH Community Colleges | Renew, Improve and Modernize (GO Bonds) | $25,000,000 | $25,000,000 | ||||
| UH Community Colleges | Renew, Improve and Modernize (General Funds) | $25,000,000 | $25,000,000 | $25,000,000 | $25,000,000 | ||
| UH West Oʻahu | Renew, Improve and Modernize (GO Bonds) | $5,000,000 | $3,500,000 | $5,000,000 | $3,500,000 | ||
| UH Mānoa | PV Rooftop and Canopies and various Energy Efficiency Projects | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000* | $20,000,000* | ||
| UH Community Colleges | Minor CIP (GO Bonds) | $25,000,000 | $25,000,000 | ||||
| UH Community Colleges | Minor CIP (General Funds) | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | ||
| UH Mānoa | Assessment and Feasibility of Hamilton Library | $6,500,000 | |||||
| UH West Oʻahu | Road B Entry Plaza | $5,500,000 | $5,500,000* | ||||
| UH Community Colleges | Kapiʻolani CC – Replace AC System (6930 Ohelo) | $15,000,000 | $15,000,000* | ||||
| UH Community Colleges | Kauaʻi CC – Upgrade Fire Alarm System | $8,500,000 | $8,500,000* | ||||
| UH Mānoa | Mini Master Plan Phase 3 – Kuykendall Hall | $5,000,000 | |||||
| UH West Oʻahu | Campus Center Phase II | $49,000,000 | |||||
| UH Community Colleges | Windward CC – Repair/Replace HVAC (5988 ʻImiloa) | $11,000,000 | $11,000,000* | $11,000,000 | |||
| UH Mānoa | Athletics | $12,000,000 | $18,000,000 | $1,000 | |||
| UH Community Colleges | Kapiʻolani CC – Renovate Building (6920 Kokiʻo) | $2,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $2,000,000* | $10,000,000* | $10,000,000 | |
| UH Mānoa | Admin Office and Parking | $8,000,000 | |||||
| UH Community Colleges | Honolulu CC – Technology Renovations Phase 2 | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000* | ||||
| UH Mānoa | Holmes Hall | $1,500,000 | $6,000,000 | $1,500,000* | $6,000,000* | $6,000,000 | |
| UH Community Colleges | Hawaiʻi CC – Manono Campus Development | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000* | ||||
| UH Mānoa | Waikīkī Aquarium Seawall Repair | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000* | ||||
| UH Mānoa | HIMB – Continue DARPA Prototype Artificial Reef | $50,000,000 | $50,000,000 | ||||
| UH Mānoa | HIMB – Replacement of Sewage System, Seawall and Pier | $10,000,000 | |||||
| UH Community Colleges | UH Maui College- Renovate Existing Buildings for Medical Ed Classrooms | $250,000 | |||||
| UH Community Colleges | Waiākea Research Station | $1,000 | |||||
| UH System Admin | Waialeʻe Ag Substation Improvements (General Funds) | $4,000,000 | |||||
| TOTAL | $262,500,000 | $296,000,000 | $189,000,000 | $161,000,000 | $180,252,000 | $187,500,000 | |
*Items were added to the Executive Request by Gov. Green after the December submission to the Legislature.
Legislation
There are a number of bills that propose to change the organizational and operating structure of UH. For example, there are a few Senate Bills (SB) that would change the UH president’s role as the head of the UH System. SB 1197 SD2 removes the president as the chief procurement officer (CPO) and designates the vice president for budget and finance/chief financial officer as CPO. UH has pointed out that the current designation is consistent with the standard practice of designating other state department leaders as CPOs for their respective agencies, such as the president of the Senate; the speaker of the House of Representatives; the superintendent of the Department of Education; and the CEO of Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation.
Another bill of concern is SB 838 SD1 which makes the vice president for community colleges responsible to the Board of Regents rather than the university president. The responsibility for managing this distinctive and effective structure of public higher education in Hawaiʻi currently rests with a single executive officer, which is the president.
Next steps
There are still almost two months left before the adjournment of the State Legislature, and we are just about at the halfway point for the session. The UH administration, alumni association, faculty and staff and other affinity groups have been active on the measures highlighted here and a number of others. All of our engagements with the legislators help to advocate and ensure that public funding for UH programs can continue.
The next major deadline is Second Crossover on April 13 when bills that are still alive are returned to their originating chamber, which is then followed by conference committees during the last two weeks of the legislative session. The Hawaiʻi State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 4, 2023.
