Virus relief money plugs hole in proposed Hawaiʻi budget

Beth Giesting, the director of the Hawaiʻi Budget and Policy Center, said she still needs to see more details of the House budget but she’s optimistic that Hawaiʻi won’t have to drastically cut spending on social programs as feared in the early months of the pandemic.

Luke said the House budget doesn’t rely on tax increases, but there are still some bills at the Legislature that could raise taxes.

Luke said she supports a green fee on travelers to help the state pay to manage public parks and manage natural resources.