Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi proposed a budget of just over $5 billion for the upcoming year on Tuesday, easing tight finances by cutting $50 million set aside for vacant positions.
Filling those positions has been a cornerstone of Blangiardi’s mayoral agenda, and while officials had raised the prospect of reducing that funding in the past, he had been reluctant to do so. Now, he said, it’s time.
“This is just smart,” Blangiardi said. “It’s just understanding the reality of our workforce.”…