An adjustment to the state budget that would fund a new medium security unit at Hawaii Community Correctional Center was sent to Gov. David Ige for final approval Wednesday.
House Bill 1900 passed its final reading Wednesday. The bill proposes a lengthy list of budget appropriations for various infrastructure projects, including a $13 million allocation to HCCC to build a new medium security housing unit.
Peter Cabreros, warden for the correctional center, said there has been discussion of such a unit for several years, although he did not know where it would be constructed or how large it would be. While there have been plans to demolish the unoccupied and aging old jail building, now only used for storage, it is unknown if a new unit would be built in place of the old jail building.
The jail’s location on Punahele Street in Hilo also is classified as a medium security unit.
The bill also would allocate more than $35 million in operating costs and investment capital to Hilo International Airport; approximately $3 million for renovations at Hilo Intermediate and Hilo High schools; and approximately $700,000 for repairs to the Hilo YMCA building, among dozens of other statewide appropriations.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.