Lawmakers kill measure that would've funded schools, increased teacher pay

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A proposal that would have improved Hawaii schools and given teachers a raise in their salaries died in conference committee at the State Capitol Thursday.

The controversial plan would have raised taxes on investment properties and visitor accommodations -- like hotel rooms and Airbnb services -- statewide.

"The last two years have shown that legislators will not vote to increase funding for our schools, nor will they allow the public to vote," Hawaii State Teachers Association President Corey Rosenlee said. "Our legislators must make education a priority. If they did not support the Constitutional Amendment, what are their solutions to our chronically underfunded public school system?"

The measure required a constitutional amendment to take place before taxes were raised.

In February, over 6,000 teachers marched at the Capitol to rally support for the measure.

The union estimates the measure could have brought in about $500 million a year.

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