Post by Logan on May 3, 2016 22:36:29 GMT -6
Hawaii lawmakers have passed the state’s $13.7 billion budget for 2017, providing funding for affordable housing development, new classroom facilities and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
The bill also includes money to boost the state’s team that fights mosquito-borne diseases. The money will help the state fight outbreaks of dengue fever that infected more than 260 people on Hawaii’s Big Island. That funding will also help the state prevent a local outbreak of the Zika virus, which would be detrimental to its citizens and the state’s economy, House Finance Chairwoman Rep. Sylvia Luke said. The budget also allows for spending more money on public school classroom supplies.
The Legislature provided $12 million for homelessness programs, surpassing the governor’s request for about $9 million, and giving the governor’s office the authority to decide how it would spend the money.
In a state with a severe shortage of affordable housing, the Legislature earmarked nearly $100 million to make a dent in the crisis, including $36.6 million in bonds for the Rental Housing Revolving Fund for developers of affordable housing for rent, and $25 million for the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, which is for developers of affordable housing to buy. The budget also includes $29 million in bonds to construct and renovate public housing, and an additional $6 million to repair empty public housing units.
Read more: www.staradvertiser.com/breaking-news/lawmakers-pass-13-7-billion-state-budget/
The bill also includes money to boost the state’s team that fights mosquito-borne diseases. The money will help the state fight outbreaks of dengue fever that infected more than 260 people on Hawaii’s Big Island. That funding will also help the state prevent a local outbreak of the Zika virus, which would be detrimental to its citizens and the state’s economy, House Finance Chairwoman Rep. Sylvia Luke said. The budget also allows for spending more money on public school classroom supplies.
The Legislature provided $12 million for homelessness programs, surpassing the governor’s request for about $9 million, and giving the governor’s office the authority to decide how it would spend the money.
In a state with a severe shortage of affordable housing, the Legislature earmarked nearly $100 million to make a dent in the crisis, including $36.6 million in bonds for the Rental Housing Revolving Fund for developers of affordable housing for rent, and $25 million for the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, which is for developers of affordable housing to buy. The budget also includes $29 million in bonds to construct and renovate public housing, and an additional $6 million to repair empty public housing units.
Read more: www.staradvertiser.com/breaking-news/lawmakers-pass-13-7-billion-state-budget/