MEDIA RELEASE

Gov. Linda Lingle has submitted to the state Legislature the Administration’s plan to meet a projected $650 million revenue shortfall for the remainder of the current fiscal year (FY09) and biennium budget fiscal years 2010 through 2011. 

The Administration’s plan balances the budget without raising taxes, without any layoffs or furloughs of state employees, and without making significant cuts to essential public services or programs.  

It combines federal stimulus funds, tobacco funds, interest from and charges to special funds, adjustments to selected employee benefits, and tightens Act 221 tax credits.

“While we are working to take maximum advantage of the federal funds available through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, the additional federal funds alone will not be sufficient to close the projected revenue shortfall,” Lingle said. 

“Our top priorities were to ensure we do not take any more taxpayer money out of the economy to support government, that we not add to the state’s unemployment by laying off employees, that we preserve essential public services, and that we continue to invest available resources in projects that will create jobs in the near term and achieve our long-term priorities such as energy independence,” she said. “This budget accomplishes those goals.”

In December, Lingle submitted her Administration’s FY10-FY11 biennium budget which included a plan to make up a $1.1 billion revenue shortfall projected by the Council on Revenues. On Jan. 9, the Council lowered its revenue projections further by an additional $650 million for FY09, FY10 and FY11.

The governor submitted an $81 million plan to close the FY09 shortfall through a combination of transferring funds from special funds, including the rainy day fund, implementing additional restrictions on discretionary spending and utilizing additional federal reimbursements for Medicaid.

“Over the past year, we have made difficult but necessary decisions to reduce spending to ensure the state lives within its means,” Lingle said. “We also must resist the impulse to raise taxes and fees because Hawaii’s families and small businesses are facing unprecedented challenges.”

Additional budget adjustments will likely be needed when the Council on Revenues meets again March 12. 

In addition to the plan to close the FY09 shortfall, the Administration proposes:

* Utilize federal stimulus Medicaid funds.  Nearly half of the shortfall will be covered by an estimated $320 million in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage funds, which became available last week. The matching federal funds for treating Medicaid patients are part of the $15 billion in Medicaid assistance being made available to the states under the recently passed federal stimulus plan.  

* Redistribute a portion of the Tobacco Settlement Funds.  The Administration supports HB1731 to reallocate the distribution, including depositing 14 percent into the state’s general fund. This action would add $7 million per year to the state’s revenues.   

* Transfer tobacco tax revenues to the general fund.  The Administration supports HB1732, which would allow the use of tobacco tax revenues. That is expected to add $33 million to the general fund in the upcoming biennium. 

* Advance the general excise tax filing date. The Administration supports HB1735 to change the filing date from the last day of the calendar month following the month in which taxes accrue to the 20th day of that month. The earlier collection of taxes within the fiscal year will generate a one-time revenue gain of $40 million.

* Remove the exemption for certain special funds from assessments – a provision that currently exempts certain special funds from paying their fair share of assessments to support central services and departmental administrative expenses. HB1740 would remove the exemption for all but a handful of special funds, including the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, Convention Center Enterprise Special Fund and Tourism Special Fund. The Administration also proposes allowing the following special funds to retain the exemption from assessments:  State Educational Facilities Improvement Special Fund, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Special Fund and University of Hawaii Special Fund.  This action would result in an additional $9.8 million annually. 

* Transfer interest earned on certain special funds to the general fund.  The Administration supports HB1733 to allow the transfer of interest earned on investments of special funds, revolving funds and special accounts into the general fund. This action would not impact the amount in these funds that are generated through user fees or charges. The use of the interest earnings would result in an estimated $38.2 million.  

* Discontinue employer-funded group life insurance. The Administration supports HB1726 to prevent the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefit Trust Fund from providing group life insurance benefits if the premiums are paid for by the state or a county. Premiums are more expensive than paying death benefits directly to survivors.  Discontinuing this practice would save the state $8.4 over the biennium. 

* Seek adjustments to the EUTF health benefits plan through collective bargaining negotiations. If the current health benefits plan is sustained, with the state covering 60 percent of the cost, the premiums will increase by an estimated 29.4 percent. This proposal would not affect retirees and their dependent beneficiaries. This would provide savings of approximately $48 million per year.  

* Further tighten Act 221 to reduce tax credits to investors in technology businesses. Rather than allowing investors to get back a full dollar for each dollar they invest, investors will receive 50 cents for each dollar invested, sharing their risk with state taxpayers. This effort will save an estimated $43.9 in the biennium.  

In addition, the Administration supports HB1715) to increase by five years the minimum retirement age and minimum length of service before a state employee can receive full service retirement benefits. The measure would only apply to employees who enter public service on or after July 1, 2009. The annual savings for this proposal starting in FY2013 is approximately $39 million.

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Governor’s Office: http://hawaii.gov./gov