{"id":207866,"date":"2024-12-17T08:30:54","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T18:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=207866"},"modified":"2026-04-24T10:11:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:11:41","slug":"governors-fiscal-biennium-budget-uh-priorities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/12\/17\/governors-fiscal-biennium-budget-uh-priorities\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor\u2019s fiscal biennium budget includes some UH<\/abbr> priorities"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 5<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Hawaii<\/p>\n

Kalbert Young, UH<\/abbr> vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the upcoming 2025 Legislative session.<\/em><\/p>\n

Aloha,<\/p>\n

On December 16, Gov. Josh Green submitted his biennial budget request for the 2025 legislative session, which begins January 15. This request includes some of the key funding priorities from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s biennium budget request approved by the UH<\/abbr> Board of Regents (BOR<\/abbr>) at the November 21 BOR<\/abbr> meeting.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr>\u2019s budget falls into two basic categories: operating and capital improvement projects (CIP<\/abbr>). Here are some of the key highlights for both:<\/p>\n

Operating Budget<\/h2>\n
\"Young\"
Kalbert Young<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Expanding the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Promise financial aid program to our four-year campuses, has been a top legislative priority for UH<\/abbr> over the past several years. For the upcoming biennium budget request of the Governor, it was not included as part of the executive\u2019s request. Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Promise is currently available to students with calculated financial need at the UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges. The program provides money to cover the direct costs of education—including tuition, fees and books and supplies—not met by other forms of financial aid. The UH<\/abbr> request sought approximately $12.1 million to provide aid for tuition, fees, books, and supplies to students with proven financial need at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, UH<\/abbr> Hilo, and UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span>, similarly to the aid that is provided at the Community Colleges.<\/p>\n

Another priority was to avoid student funds being necessary for debt service of certain UH<\/abbr> facilities. Debt service funding for bonds financing the construction of the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa John A. Burns School of Medicine and UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center is included in the governor\u02bbs budget. Both facilities have historically had debt service met by the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement funds and the state tax on cigarettes, respectively. Having these funds from the state to satisfy debt service has been the approach for decades, thereby mitigating the need to utilize tuition revenues to pay for such expenses. However, as revenues from both of these sources have been declining for years, and have reached the level where debt service will exceed the revenues from these funds, the state is being asked to augment the current practice with earmarked funds to assist paying for the debt service. The Governor has included a significant funding approach as part of his budget request that supports JABSOM, and the Cancer Center.<\/p>\n

Other priorities include permanent funding for programs like the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\/UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> Pre-Nursing Pathway, rural RN<\/abbr> to BS<\/abbr> programs, additional financial aid counselors, retention coordinators and nursing instructional positions. These areas of workforce development focus in the areas of medical industry support—especially, nursing—but also for other areas such as teacher development.<\/p>\n

The following table lists the operating budget requests by the BOR<\/abbr> and what the governor included or did not include in the executive budget.<\/p>\n

Operating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Campus<\/th>\nItem<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Board of Regents<\/th>\nGovernor<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
FY26<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY27<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY26<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY27<\/abbr><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
PERMANENT FUNDING<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nMake M\u0101noa Athletics subsidy permanent<\/td>\n$3,200,000<\/td>\n$3,200,000<\/td>\n$3,200,000<\/td>\n$3,200,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nHIMB<\/abbr> Positions from Act 181\/23<\/td>\n$246,118<\/td>\n$246,118<\/td>\n$246,118<\/td>\n$246,118<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nK–12 Expanded Teaching Cohort from Act 141\/22<\/td>\n$420,556<\/td>\n$375,556<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nPamantasan Council from Act 64\/23<\/td>\n$85,500<\/td>\n$85,500<\/td>\n$85,500<\/td>\n$85,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nMake Hilo Athletics subsidy permanent<\/td>\n$800,000<\/td>\n$800,000<\/td>\n$500,000<\/td>\n$500,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nFull Year funding for BS<\/abbr> in Education Studies and Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education<\/td>\n$142,500<\/td>\n$142,500<\/td>\n$142,500<\/td>\n$142,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community College<\/td>\nWindward CC<\/abbr> Mental Health Tech Certificate of Competence Program from Act 107\/24<\/td>\n$210,150<\/td>\n$210,150<\/td>\n$210,150<\/td>\n$210,150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community College<\/td>\nUH<\/abbr> Maui College Practical Nursing Bridge Program from Act 74\/23<\/td>\n$330,000<\/td>\n$330,000<\/td>\n$330,000<\/td>\n$330,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community College<\/td>\nPamantasan Council from Act 64\/23<\/td>\n$196,000<\/td>\n$196,000<\/td>\n$196,000<\/td>\n$196,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HAWAIʻI<\/span> PROMISE<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nÂ鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Promise Program Expansion<\/td>\n$8,683,397<\/td>\n$8,683,397<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nÂ鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Promise Program Expansion<\/td>\n$920,938<\/td>\n$920,938<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\nÂ鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Promise Program Expansion<\/td>\n$2,451,832<\/td>\n$2,451,832<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
STUDENT SUPPORT<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nFinancial Aid Counselors<\/td>\n$904,152<\/td>\n$904,152<\/td>\n$199,440<\/td>\n$398,880<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nRetention Coordinator<\/td>\n$37,500<\/td>\n$75,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo <\/td>\nInternship Coordinator<\/td>\n$37,500<\/td>\n$75,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo <\/td>\nStudent Enrollment Management<\/td>\n$432,500<\/td>\n$640,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\nAdmissions and Financial Aid<\/td>\n$213,600<\/td>\n$213,600<\/td>\n$37,650<\/td>\n$75,300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT – NURSING<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nUH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa-UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> Nursing Collaboration Phase III<\/abbr><\/td>\n$447,936<\/td>\n$447,936<\/td>\n$447,936<\/td>\n$447,936<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nOnline RN to BS Program<\/td>\n$111,984<\/td>\n$111,984<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nIncrease School of Nursing cohort size<\/td>\n$297,500<\/td>\n$595,000<\/td>\n$357,500<\/td>\n$475,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\nPre-Nursing Pathway<\/td>\n$424,364<\/td>\n$424,364<\/td>\n$107,776<\/td>\n$215,552<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT – OTHER<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nAdministration of Justice Program Expansion<\/td>\n$75,000<\/td>\n$150,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo <\/td>\nData Science Program<\/td>\n$42,500<\/td>\n$85,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo <\/td>\nBiocultural Science Program<\/td>\n$85,000<\/td>\n$170,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\nTeacher Preparation Programs<\/td>\n$90,455<\/td>\n$90,455<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MEDICAL FACILITIES<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
JABSOM<\/abbr><\/td>\nDebt service for Kakaʻako<\/span> Health & Wellness Campus<\/td>\n$2,725,000<\/td>\n$2,725,000<\/td>\n$1,108,019<\/td>\n$1,533,463<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center<\/td>\nDebt service and operational costs<\/td>\n$6,857,810<\/td>\n$6,857,810<\/td>\n$9,476,352<\/td>\n$9,441,861<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OTHER REQUESTS – CORE FUNCTIONS<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
JABSOM<\/abbr><\/td>\nCentral Chiller Plant Operations<\/td>\n$63,000<\/td>\n$63,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nGroundskeepers<\/td>\n$101,280<\/td>\n$202,560<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\nACM<\/abbr> Facilities and Core Services<\/td>\n$341,748<\/td>\n$341,748<\/td>\n$66,888<\/td>\n$133,776<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> System<\/td>\nInformation Security<\/td>\n$1,500,000<\/td>\n$1,500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OTHER<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nExpand Concussion Education to Middle Schools<\/td>\n$200,000<\/td>\n$200,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
JABSOM<\/abbr><\/td>\nFocus on cardiovascular disease and treatment<\/td>\n$700,000<\/td>\n$700,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nConvert Athletics Positions and Additional Support<\/td>\n$4,519,341<\/td>\n$4,519,341<\/td>\n$320,000<\/td>\n$320,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/strong><\/td>\n <\/td>\n$37,895,161<\/strong><\/td>\n$38,733,941<\/strong><\/td>\n$17,031,829<\/strong><\/td>\n$17,952,036<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Capital Improvement Projects (CIP<\/abbr>)<\/h2>\n

The CIP<\/abbr> budget focuses on health and safety, modernization and addressing deferred maintenance across our campuses. Key highlights include $381 million for FY26 and $331 million for FY27 for modernization and deferred maintenance (Governor included $145.5 million and $114.5 million), $118 million for UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa student housing upgrades (Governor included $50 million) and $40 million requested for photovoltaic energy-saving projects (not included).<\/p>\n

CIP<\/abbr><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Campus<\/th>\nProject Description<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Board of Regents<\/th>\nGovernor<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
FY26<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY27<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY26<\/abbr><\/th>\nFY27<\/abbr><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
UH<\/abbr> System\/UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nRIM<\/abbr> Projects<\/td>\n$100,000,000<\/td>\n$100,000,000<\/td>\n$50,000,000<\/td>\n$50,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nStudent Housing Services Improvements<\/td>\n$61,500,000<\/td>\n$57,000,000<\/td>\n$25,000,000<\/td>\n$25,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nAssessment and Feasibility of Hamilton Library<\/td>\n$4,000,000<\/td>\n$4,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nWaik\u012bk\u012b Aquarium Improvements<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$4,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nAthletics Improvements<\/td>\n$10,000,000<\/td>\n$10,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nHolmes Hall<\/td>\n$9,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$9,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nPV<\/abbr> Rooftop and Canopies and Various Energy Efficiency Projects<\/td>\n$20,000,000<\/td>\n$20,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nMini Master Plan Phase 3 – Kuykendall Hall<\/td>\n$5,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$5,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\nAdmin Office and Parking Phase I<\/abbr> and II<\/abbr><\/td>\n$9,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nRIM Projects<\/td>\n$29,625,000<\/td>\n$22,685,000<\/td>\n$15,000,000<\/td>\n$15,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\nPuako Marine Education and Research Center, Phase I<\/abbr><\/td>\n <\/td>\n$750,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\nRIM<\/abbr> Projects<\/td>\n$6,900,000<\/td>\n$5,000,000<\/td>\n$6,500,000<\/td>\n$4,500,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nCapital Renewal and Deferred Maintenance<\/td>\n$37,500,000<\/td>\n$25,000,000<\/td>\n$20,000,000<\/td>\n$20,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nMinor CIP<\/abbr><\/td>\n$37,500,000<\/td>\n$25,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nKapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> – Kauila and Kopiko Renovations for Health Sciences<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$34,800,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nHonolulu CC<\/abbr> – Technology Renovations, Phase 2<\/td>\n$32,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$15,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nUH<\/abbr> Maui College – Heona Modernization<\/td>\n$15,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nUH<\/abbr> Maui College – Hale Modernization<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$12,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/td>\nWindward CC<\/abbr> – Alakaʻi<\/span> Building Renovation<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$15,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/strong><\/td>\n <\/td>\n$381,025,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$331,235,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$145,500,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$114,500,000<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Next Steps<\/h2>\n

The university is grateful for the support reflected in the governor\u2019s budget and will continue advocating for critical funding needs as the legislative session progresses. As in years past, I will provide updates throughout the legislative session as the state and university budget is amended and progresses through the Legislature. Mahalo for your time and attention.<\/p>\n

Happy Holidays,
\nKalbert Young
\nUH<\/abbr> Vice President of Budget and Finance\/Chief Financial Officer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kalbert Young, UH<\/abbr> vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the upcoming 2025 Legislative session.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1193],"tags":[61,62,63,64,65,71,14,9,60,947,59,66],"class_list":["post-207866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-administrative","tag-hawaii-community-college","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-kauai-community-college","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-system","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t