Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 12, 1 December 1990 — Trustees ok $17.5 million two-year budget [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Trustees ok $17.5 million two-year budget

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees has approved a budget of approximately $17.5 million for the fiscal biennium starting July 1, 1991 through June 30, 1993. The two-year budget will be presented to the state legislature in the 1991 session.

Among the major areas to be addressed in the two-year budget will be funding for eeonomie development programs, collaborative efforts with other governmental or private agencies to help the homeiess. and OHA initiatives in Hawaiian claims and entitlements, native rights, historic preservation and culture perpetuation, enrollment and benefits, and the Hui Imi Task Force on Hawaiian services OHA will fund half of its budget from the

The 1991 legislature required OHA to provide its beneficiaries with the opportunity to participate in the preparation of the agency's budget plan. This process began in July 1990 with a senes of community meetings where Hawaiians were asked what services they felt were needed. Many of these ideas were incorporated into the functional and budget plans of eaeh OHA division. A proposed OHA budget was then brought to the Hawauan

community for comment at statewide meetings held in October. These comments were reviewed at board committee meetings on the proposed budget in early November. At their Nov. 14 meeting the trustees as a board approved the two-year budget plan. The trustees also approved the six-year functional plans developed by OHA divisions.

The plans are designed to correspond with biennium budget periods. The plans reflect six months of planning by OHA staff with input from Hawaiian beneficiaries statewide, OHA trustees and the community at large. The plans consist of goals, objectives and implementing actions to carry out the OHA master plan, adopted īn 1988.

increased revenues it will receive from the public ceded land trust for the benefit of native Hawaiians of 50 percent or more Hawaiian ancestry. Since OHA is mandated by state law to work for the betterment of conditions of all Hawaiians, the agency will also request state general funds for the other half of its budqet.

Community meetings to present the proposed OHA budget were held statewide in October.

Kona-area residents listen as the budget is explained.

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