(AP) — Hawaii Gov. David Ige says coronavirus relief aid from the federal government and better-than-expected tax revenues are prompting him to reduce the size of budget cuts he has proposed for public schools. The governor is proposing a 2.5% cut for the state Department of Education budget instead of a 10% cut. He says that is a $123 million increase over his initial proposal. Hawaii tax revenues have declined sharply as the flow of tourists to the islands plummeted during the pandemic. The governor says the state can’t afford current payroll with projected revenues, so he’s negotiating with unions to achieve labor savings.

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