Understanding how the State of Hawaiʻi and the University of Hawaiʻi budgets operate can be challenging, even for those who work in government. To help demystify the process, UH has launched a new four-part video series, Budget 101, with Vice President for Budget and Finance and Chief Financial Officer Kalbert Young.
The series is designed to give faculty, staff, students and the broader UH community a primer on how government budgeting works, how UH receives and allocates its funds, and how decisions are made at the state, UH system and campus levels.
Young, who has more than two decades of experience in state and county finance, and served as director of the Hawaiʻi Department of Budget and Finance, said the series is about giving people the tools to better understand the fundamentals.
“I know budgeting can be a difficult topic for many state employees, but it’s nonetheless important to understand the basics about how our government and the University of Hawaiʻi operates financially,” said Young. “This series is meant to be a practical resource for anyone who wants to learn some basic aspects about where our funding comes from and some insight as to how our budget is structured.”
The series covers:
- Budget 101—Overview
- Budget 101—Operating Appropriation
- Budget 101—UH Budget Process
- Budget 101—Bonds
In the first presentation, Young walks viewers through the state’s “methods of funding,” often referred to as the “color of money.” He explains the differences between general funds, special funds such as tuition revenues, revolving funds like student housing or parking, and bond financing for capital projects. He also provides a glossary of common budget terms and introduces how UH’s program IDs are used by the state legislature.
The other videos dive deeper into UH’s operating budget, the internal budget process, and the university’s use of bonds for major capital projects.
Young encouraged anyone interested—or even just curious—to watch the series.
“If you have the courage to continue on this journey or the need to learn more about the budget, I invite you to check out the videos,” he said.
The Budget 101 series is available on the UH Budget and Finance homepage.
