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Gov. David Ige announced Wednesday that furloughs for state employees will be delayed thanks to a $900 billion federal relief package that will help cover vaccine efforts.
The furloughs were set to go into effect Jan. 1 with the state staring down a massive budget shortfall in the coming years. In a letter sent to state employees Wednesday afternoon, Ige said the state had been waiting months to see if Congress would provide additional federal funds to help address the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts in Hawaii.
While a bipartisan bill passed Monday by Congress and awaiting the president’s signature does not provide funding to state and local governments for revenue shortfall, it does cover COVID-related measures that the state would have to pay for otherwise, such as vaccine distribution, testing, education and other efforts, according to the Governor’s Office.
Hawaii State Teachers Association taking legal action over upcoming furloughs kesq.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kesq.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.