Massive disaster fund costs raise budget concerns

Hawaii State Capitol Building in Honolulu, Hawaii.

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Lawmakers are sounding the alarm and some say the state is running out of money to respond to the Maui wildfires, with top state officials now saying the state is He said that he is working on developing guidelines for the amount of aid that will continue to be provided. .

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, told members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee that protections for people displaced by Maui’s wildfires are not essential and that he is setting guidelines for emergency housing for the first time.

Hara said, “If the state offers you a home near your school or workplace and you refuse, there is a high possibility that the state will not come to take you in.”

Lawmakers said that amount is going to hotel shelters, draining the state of funds. The deal to extend hotel rooms through the end of June will cost at least $250 million. Finance Director Luis Salaverria said this was more than double what was expected and said it was more important than ever to actually build homes.

“We are relying heavily on the implementation of housing programs and moving people out of non-congregate housing,” Salaveria said.

States are scrambling to find people who don’t qualify for FEMA assistance. That number has grown from 820 to 659 in just one week as the state negotiates with federal authorities.

So far, one of the state’s housing projects is scheduled to have 175 units in operation by March, while another with 270 units is scheduled to be completed by July.

“If we don’t start housing people starting in July, we’re going to start spending money that we weren’t expecting or budgeted for,” said Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Ta.

Sen. Jarrett Keokaroll said he is not happy with the spending and budget cuts the state government will be facing.

“We still have survivors who are hurting, and we need to take care of them in a humane way. But we cannot jeopardize the operations of the state of Hawaii,” Keo Karol said.

Meanwhile, Salaveria said agencies should not seek additional funding through legislation outside of the administration’s policies approved by Gov. Josh Green.

“I’m going to send a memo to each department,” Salavaria said. “We’re telling them they shouldn’t ask for more than the currently approved budget that the governor has approved.”

The governor’s office released a statement saying, “The Director of Finance presented the state’s balanced fiscal plan to the WAM Committee.”

Adding costs to the Catastrophe Fund remains in flux.

“We thank Congress for its patience as we navigate this changing environment and for its consideration of the One Ohana Fund, which supports those most affected by the Maui wildfires.

Governor Greene met with FEMA Administrator Deanna Criswell in Washington, D.C., last week and promised to resolve issues regarding NCS condo use. This should clarify the approximately $50 million cost of NCS. ”

The Legislature continues to schedule information sessions to address the state’s fiscal needs.