A University of Hawaii press release is describing Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s most recent budget proposal as “an early Christmas gift” for students who are in the thick of end-of-semester exams.

The $24 billion supplemental executive spending plan, unveiled earlier this week, “gives them hope for their future and the future of their university,” the press release says. 

The plan honors the $14 million university regents requested in their own proposal to restore UH faculty salaries to pre-recession levels and another $19.5 million for the 3 percent faculty raises that were negotiated for the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years. 

That money would free up student tuition revenues so they can instead be invested in capital improvement projects at campuses across the state, the university says. It would also help the university reduce its $487 million construction backlog.

All that’s apparently putting smiles on the faces of UH students, many of whom have had to contend with shabby, deteriorating buildings for years, according to UH.

The press release cites UH Manoa nursing student Shonaline Domingo as saying “It kind of brings the mood down, you don’t really want to be around the facilities. It just dampens the learning environment for us as students.”

The university’s message of hope comes just a day after another press release hailing the governor’s supplemental budget proposal. That one applauded Abercrombie on his commitment to higher education and said the plan brings the university one step closer to financial sustainability, furthering “programs and support that enrich students’ lives and communities across the state.”

Both press releases preface what’s expected to be a heated discussion at the state Capitol tomorrow morning, when lawmakers on both the Senate and House higher education committees will discuss the university’s 2014-15 supplemental budget and could quickly dampen the university’s holiday enthusiasm.

Many legislators, including Sen. Sam Slom and Rep. Isaac Choy, have been vocal critics of the university’s spending and will likely grill officials on their budget requests and challenge their fiscal priorities. 

A list of tomorrow’s discussion items can be found here. 

Photo: The new recreation center at UH Manoa is one of many projects whose construction faces long delays. (Alia Wong/Civil Beat)

— Alia Wong