According to a memo from Gov. Josh Green to department heads, about $172.6 million that had previously been earmarked for a number of public purposes, including roof repairs at the Hawaii Convention Center, renovations to state parks and agricultural storage, will be redirected. Instead, it will be used to fight wildfires on Maui.
The document provides perhaps the most detailed picture yet of the tradeoffs the public will make to “support the state’s response to the worst natural disaster in history,” as Green said. ing.
“The state is in the midst of ongoing response efforts to address the aftermath of the devastating wildfires that occurred in Hawaii and Maui counties on August 8, 2023, causing significant loss of life and damage to Lahaina. ,” the governor said. wrote a letter to his cabinet “The past two months have made it clear that even with federal assistance, the state’s resource requirements will be substantial.”
Luis Salaveria, the state’s director of budget and finance, said Saturday that the money will go toward state support for wildfire recovery efforts.
Salaverria said it was unclear how much of the money would go toward a multi-part plan aimed at compensating victims, rebuilding those who lost their homes and businesses, and improving wildfire risk management. He said it was not.
Greene announced the first part of the plan Wednesday, unveiling a $150 million Maui Recovery Fund aimed at compensating those seriously injured and the families of those killed. Green said those victims and their families could each be eligible for more than $1 million if they agree not to pursue claims in court.
Salaveria said it was unclear whether any part of the $172.6 million would go to the victims’ fund.
The state, Hawaiian Electric Company, Kamehameha Schools and the County of Maui will donate to the Maui Recovery Fund. But only Hawaiian Electric is willing to reveal the amount, saying it will put in $75 million through liability insurance proceeds.
Kamehameha Schools announced Friday that it will participate in the fund, but said it is “still working out the details of its efforts.”
Green did not say how much money the state would provide or where that money would come from.
“The state will make a significant contribution to this effort, and I am in constant communication with House and Senate leadership regarding Maui’s recovery efforts, including this recovery fund,” Greene said in a statement. “We will provide further details when we provide a four-month update on the disaster on December 8th.”
In addition to providing an unknown amount to the Maui Recovery Fund, Greene will direct $65 million to the state Department of Defense’s Major Disaster Fund.
Greene’s funding changes will be included in a supplementary budget, which the governor plans to submit to the Hawaii Legislature in mid-December.
Green told department heads that capital improvement projects that lost money for fire relief could still receive funding. That’s because the plan would divert funds currently earmarked for some capital improvement projects so they could be used to pay for the projects by issuing general obligation bonds in the 2025 supplemental budget.
The proposed diversions of funds are listed below. revised budget statement Posted on October 27th.
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