UH scales back construction, repairs
The University of Hawaii is considering halting new construction projects across the university system until it can rein in a repair and maintenance backlog that has ballooned to nearly a half-billion dollars.
The idea was presented at Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting by Regent Benjamin Kudo, who said an “interim self-imposed moratorium” on new construction would give the board breathing room to address the needed repairs.
A major project affected by the budget situation is a planned center to house the late Senator Inouye’s congressional papers. The university’s Board of Regents on Thursday approved seeking $5 million in state bond financing as a way to demonstrate UH’s commitment to the project — a commitment that proponents said was needed to help in efforts to raise more private funds.