MEDIA RELEASE

The House of Representatives has passed the House draft of the state budget bill including over $204,071,000 in capital improvement projects (CIP) for the Big Island for fiscal year 2010-2011.

When combined with the $225,267,000 in CIP funds approved in fiscal year 2009-2010, the first year of the biennium, the total amount for Hawaii Island projects is over $429 million.

Fiscal Year 2010-2011

Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project — 1,500,000
Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project — 1,800,000
Waimea Hydropower Plant — 1,000,000
Waimea Transfer Ditch Improvements — 2,000,000
Hilo High School — 8,000,000
Holualoa Elementary School — 220,000
Waiakea High School — 2,700,000
Waiakeawaena Elementary School — 450,000
Lai Opua Community Center — 1,526,000
Kona Community Hospital — 750,000
West Hawaii Community Health Center — 180,000
North Kohala District Court Roof and Eave — 300,000
Ka’u High and Pahala Elementary School — 18,100,000
North Kona Well — 1,300,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, ARFF — 1,000,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Noise — 100,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Terminal — 40,000,000
Hilo Harbor Improvements — 10,000,000
HMP-Pier 4 Interisland Cargo Terminal, Hilo — 48,000,000
HMP-Pier 4 Kawaihae Harbor — 5,000,000
Hawaii Belt Road, Pahoehoe Stream Bridge — 596,000
Hawaii Belt Road, Pahoehoe Stream Bridge — 149,000
Kawaihae Road Bypass, Waimea to Kawaihae — 12,000,000
Kawaihae Road Bypass, Waimea to Kawaihae — 3,000,000
Keaau Pahoa Road, Keaau to Pahoa — 2,640,000
Keaau Pahoa Road, Keeau to Pahoa — 660,000
Keaau-Pahoa Road, Keaau Bypass to Shower Dr. — 4,800,000
Keaau-Pahoa Road, Keaau Bypass to Shower Dr. — 1,200,000
Kuakini Hwy Drainage, Kamehameha III Road — 1,100,000
Mamalahoa Hwy Drainage, Kawa — 1,200,000
Mamalahoa Hwy Drainage, Kawa — 300,000
Puna Makai Alternative Route — 1,500,000
UHH, Hawaiian Language Bldg, Phase I — 31,000,000

TOTAL — $204,071,000

“We need to insure that the Senate agrees with the House appropriations for this year, as well as join with us to urge the Governor to release last year’s appropriations,” said Rep. Jerry Chang (District 2 – South Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha).

“During these tough times, we are very fortunate to have included in the House budget, funds for our higher education institutions, as well as our schools in the Hilo district,” Chang said. “I’m pleased that we were able to secure $31 million for the UH Hilo Hawaiian Language Building, and $10 million for our Big Island Community College campuses to renovate the East Hawaii campus and new West Hawaii – Hawaii Education Center. There is also $8 million for a new Hilo High gym this year, and $8 million for the Keaukaha cafetorium included in last year’s budget.”

“There is high demand for accessible and adequate public services in West Hawaii,” said Rep. Cindy Evans (District 7 – North Kona, South Kohala.) “I’m pleased there are monies to meet our needs for access to healthcare, improved roads, efficiencies at Kona airport, updating Kawaihae commercial and recreational harbors, and development of water resources.”

“The latest Council on Revenues forecast for the present fiscal year is optimistic, however I believe the legislature will continue to be cautious while crafting the budget,” said Rep. Clift Tsuji (District 3 – South Hilo, Panaewa, Puna, Keaau, Kurtistown.) “I am pleased to note that there are funds for Waiakea High School’s partially completed all-weather track complex. I also appreciate the moneys for improvements to Hilo’s Harbor and Airport as these ports are a vital lifeline for the island’s economy, especially the agriculture industry. In addition, appropriations for projects to the Keaau-Pahoa Road are so important to ensure safer driving conditions on one of the district’s heaviest traffic corridors. The Big Island delegation continues to work to make these projects a reality.”

There is still CIP money from last year’s budget that requires the Governor‘s immediate attention to prevent lapsing,” Tsuji said. “This includes a Kupulau Road extension that will alleviate traffic congestion for Waiakea Uka residents.”

The following is a list of appropriations for the current fiscal year, approved by the legislature in 2009. Big Island lawmakers are waiting for the funds to be released by the Governor’s Office.

Fiscal Year 2009-2010

Waimea Hydropower Plant — 350,000
Waimea Transfer Ditch Improvements — 200,000
Hilo High School — 1,000,000
Keaukaha Elementary School — 8,000,000
Waiakea High School — 300,000
Water System, Lalamilo, Waimea — 6,000,000
Arc of Hilo — 550,000
Hospice of Hilo — 750,000
Kona Judiciary Complex — 550,000
Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council — 120,000
Kawaihae Harbor, South Basin — 280,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, ARFF — 7,885,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Support — 500,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Terminal — 60,000,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Security — 2,329,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Security — 618,000
Hilo Harbor Improvements — 1,700,000
HMP-Pier 4 Terminal Improvements, Kawaihae — 16,250,000
HMP-Pier 4 Kawaihae Harbor — 36,000,000
Akoni Pule Hwy, Widening Aamakao Gulch — 520,000
Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Kealakehe to Palani Rd — 15,000,000
Kawaihae Rd Bypass, Waimea to Kawaihae — 1,250,000
Keaau-Pahoa Rd Shoulder, Keaau to Shower Dr. — 10,400,000
Keaau-Pahoa Rd Shoulder, Keaau to Shower Dr. — 2,600,000
Keaau-Pahoa Rd Shoulder, Keeau to Shower Dr. — 860,000
Kuakini Hwy Drainage, Kamehameha III Rd — 2,250,000
Kupulau Rd Extension — 2,750,000
Mamalahoa Hwy Drainage, Puuwaawaa Ranch — 600,000
Rockfall Protection — 22,520,000
Rockfall Protection — 5,630,000
Street light installations — 105,000
Traffic Improvements at Intersections — 900,000
UHH, Hawaiian Language Bldg, Phase I — 1,000,000
UHH, College of Pharmacy — 5,500,000
HAW, East Hawaii Manono Campus — 10,000,000

TOTAL — $225,267,000

“I am extremely pleased that our community has received $1,526,000 of capital improvement project (CIP) funding for Laiopua 2020,” said Rep. Denny Coffman (District 6 – North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau.) “The funding will support architectural planning and design of approximately 130,000 square feet of community facilities built on vacant land owned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). The project will extend over 26.75 acres. It is located in the Villages of Laiopua within the Kealakehe ahupua’a. It is a Community Center that will support the greater West Hawaii region. Laiopua 2020 wants to be a puuhonua (area of safety and peace) for our community.”

“I am pleased that $1.5 million is in the budget for the Puna Makai Alternative Highway,” said Rep. Faye Hanohano (District 4 – Puna, Pahoa, Hawaiian Acres, Kalapana.) “This alternate route is needed to relieve congestion and facilitate safe movement for the evacuation of residents and visitors in the event of natural disaster such as tsunami, volcanic eruption flow, and wildfire.”

“While everyone is suffering in this economy, the safety of our citizens is of the utmost concern,” said Rep. Mark Nakashima (District 1 – North Kohala, South Kohala, Hamakua, North Hilo, South Hilo.) “The benefits of the Papaikou Traffic Safety Project, which will improve highway conditions and signage, far outweigh its monetary cost.”

“The House draft of the budget includes funding for Ka’u and the surrounding communities to finally have a disaster relief shelter,” said Rep. Robert Herkes (District 5 – Puna, Kau, South Kona, North Kona.) “Hawaii is the only state that is impacted by every major natural disaster, and Ka’u has the potential of being impacted by them all. This funding replaces the old Ka’u High School gym with a new gym built to FEMA disaster shelter standards. Our rural area residents and students will now have a safe refuge should any natural disaster occur.”

MEDIA RELEASE

Lono Tyson

Mayor Billy Kenoi has accepted the resignation of Hawai‘i County Director of Environmental Management (DEM), Lono Tyson, effective June 30, 2010.

Tyson was Mayor Kenoi’s choice for the DEM director job from the beginning of his administration on December 1, 2008.

Tyson had served Hawai`i County previously as Solid Waste Division Chief from September 2003 to July 2005, when he moved to Australia with his future wife. Mayor Kenoi asked him to return as DEM director in December 2008.

Tyson and his wife decided to move back to Australia to be closer to their family. Since Tyson’s return to the Big Island at the beginning of 2009, Tyson has witnessed the marriages of his two children who reside in Australia and is expecting the birth of his second grandchild in August.

“My time as director for this department has been extremely rewarding and has reinforced my respect and gratitude to all County workers, especially those whom I have had the good fortune to work with,” Tyson said.

Mayor Kenoi praised Tyson’s work.

“At the time I knew I made a solid pick for director of Environmental Management and I was not disappointed,” said Mayor Kenoi. “Environmental Management is one of our toughest departments in the County to manage and Lono Tyson did an outstanding job. We will miss his expertise and tremendous attitude, but I understand the desire to be nearer to his family. We wish him well and the best of luck in his new ventures ‘Down Under.’”

A search for Tyson’s replacement is under way.

MEDIA RELEASE

Mayor Billy Kenoi has submitted his package of proposed reforms to the Hawai’i County Code of Ethics to the Hawaii County Council, including a proposal that would ban county employees from contracting with county departments. Another proposal in the package would tighten certain restrictions on lobbying County boards and agencies.

Mayor Kenoi submitted the same package of proposals to the Hawaii County Board of Ethics last September. After reviewing the package, the Board of Ethics returned it to the administration on February 10 with comments and a number of suggested revisions.

“We appreciate the careful review that the Board of Ethics gave to these proposals, and the time that they invested in listening to public testimony, debating the merits of the proposals and commenting on the package,” Mayor Kenoi said. “I have carefully reviewed their input, and I expect the County Council will also study the Board of Ethics’ comments and suggestions when the Council considers this matter.”

“I continue to support our ethics reforms as originally written because I believe they offer the best opportunity to boost public confidence in government,” Mayor Kenoi said. “I believe the public has certain expectations for County employees, and I believe those expectations are best represented in our original package of proposals. I look forward to working collaboratively with the County Council to adopt these proposals as law.”

Copies of the complete submittal to the Board of Ethics are available on this Web site, through the Office of the Mayor or though the Office of the Corporation Counsel.

MEDIA RELEASE

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle issued the following statement today following the release of the latest unemployment numbers, which showed that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January 2010 was 6.9 percent, a 0.1 percentage point increase over December’s revised rate of 6.8 percent. The number of unemployed people in Hawai‘i in January 2010 was 43,450, compared to 38,400 in January 2009.

“With many of our residents out of work, it is critical that the Legislature pass immediate and meaningful legislation that will help private businesses create and retain jobs. My Administration has proposed comprehensive legislation to encourage businesses to hire new employees, including providing tax credits for the creation of new jobs and developing ‘green’ jobs through Hawai‘i Clean Energy Investment bonds to finance energy efficiency projects.

“At the same time, I have directed my cabinet to move forward on job creation programs that do not require legislation. These include Hawai‘i Premium Plus, which would reimburse employers for the cost of health care premiums for new hires, as well as the Volunteer Internship Program that would allow people on unemployment to work for or volunteer their time with a prospective employer.”

MEDIA RELEASE

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Bureau of Conveyances has launched two new online services to improve the recording and research of real property transactions in Hawai‘i.

Effective immediately, businesses and individuals can file financing statements, a.k.a. Uniform Commercial Code form 1 (UCC-1) forms completely electronically at boc.ehawaii.gov

The Bureau’s existing online document search has also been upgraded, enabling anyone performing ownership / licensing research to bypass the public access room and run their searches on the 9.6 million documents 24-hours a day, 7-days-a-week.

“This is the beginning of major modernization efforts at the Bureau which were made possible when electronic storage of documents became a legal option as a result of changes passed by the 2009 Legislature and approved by the Governor,” said DLNR Chairperson Laura H. Thielen. “We are moving quickly to enable the electronic submission of more Bureau documents this year.”

The Bureau examines, records, indexes, and microfilms 300,000 Regular System and Land Court documents and maps annually; issues Land Court certificates of title; certifies copies of matters of record; and researches UCC requests. Hawai‘i is the only state in the nation with a single statewide recording office.

Bureau of Conveyances Online Services provides:

• Electronic Filing of UCC-1 Filings: Eliminates the need for mail or a physical visit
• Search the Bureau’s 9.6 million documents online: No need to visit the Public Access Room; run searches any time/day
• Pay for searches/ filings online: Pay for filings using a credit card or subscriber account with eHawaii.gov.

Hawai‘i’s official Internet portal, ehawaii.gov, is managed by the Hawai‘i Information Consortium, LLC (HIC). HIC works with state and county agencies to enable them to conduct government business online and improve public access to government information.

Users can access Bureau of Conveyances services at boc.ehawaii.gov and learn more about Hawai‘i online services at www.ehawaii.gov.

MEDIA RELEASE

HONOLULU — Licensed commercial fishers can now submit their monthly commercial fishing reports on-line using a new system implemented by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). There is no charge to the fishers to use this new on-line system.

“DLNR is providing fishers this new on-line system as a quick and convenient alternative method of submitting monthly commercial fishing reports, which are required by law,” said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.

“On-line filing is a tool that facilitates the collection of fishing reports, which provide invaluable data for both State and federal government agencies that manage fisheries in Hawaiian waters,” Thielen said. The on-line system is part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s continuing efforts to make more state government services available on-line to increase convenience to the public and improve government efficiency.”

The web-site address is dlnr.ehawaii.gov/cmls-fr. Only fishers with a valid commercial marine license issued by DLNR will be able to submit on-line reports, and must enter identifying information to log in to the secured system via their license record.

Some of the features of the on-line fishing report system include:
Ability to view report submission status;
Easy to submit “Did Not Fish” report for months in which a fisher had no activity;
Drop down windows for area fish code, gear, landing port and species to facilitate report completion;
An option to save data entries for each individual fishing trip until a fisher is ready to submit their report at end of the month;
Ability to print a copy of the monthly report for the fisher’s business records;
Option to download an extract of the fishing report record for import into the fisher’s favorite software so they can analyze their own fishery performance;
A link to the DAR on-line commercial marine licensing system that allows renewal of a commercial marine license on-line.

During the initial phase of this on-line project, only the fishing report form can be submitted on-line. Other report forms, including the commercial aquarium catch, deep-sea hand line trip, tuna hand line trip, net/trap/dive activity reports, will be available for on-line reporting in the near future.

DLNR is hoping to have a high adoption rate among the 2,500 licensed commercial fishers, who can now convert from paper reporting to on-line reporting. In addition, on-line reporting is expected to reduce expenses for both fishers and DLNR through lower costs for postage and printing of report booklets.

By submitting complete and accurate fishing reports every month before the reporting deadline (the 10th day of the following month), commercial fishers will avoid license renewal refusal, or fines administered by the department’s Civil Resources Violation System.

Commercial fishers who need assistance in using the new on-line system may contact the Division of Aquatic Resources statistical unit in Honolulu at (808) 587-0108, or 587-0595, or 587-0084, or 587-0594 from Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., except holidays and “furlough Fridays.” Questions may be e-mailed to the Fishing Report hotline at fishrpt@hawaii.gov.

From Sen. Josh Green:

As the 2010 legislative session approaches its midpoint, I am continuing to fight for changes that will make Hawaii a safer, healthier, and better place for all of us to live.

My top priorities for this year remain: strengthening Hawaii’s hospitals and healthcare system, returning our students to full instructional time in the classroom, building Hawaii’s economy and creating jobs, and passing tougher DUI laws.

Although we are all going through tough economic times, I believe it is more important than ever for us to maintain high standards in basic healthcare and education, so that our working families and our entire economy can fully benefit from recovery when it comes.

Please write or call me any time with your ideas and concerns regarding these or other issues. My staff and I are always available to serve you.

Finally, please join me in reaching out to members of our community who may be struggling to provide for their families as our economy recovers from recession.

Donations to the Hawaii Food Bank and Aloha United Way (auw.org), the West Hawaii Community Health Center (westhawaiichc.org), and our individual churches and synagogues are some of the best and most effective ways to help support our neighbors.

Let’s keep working together to make Hawaii a better place for all of us.

Sincerely,
Josh

MEDIA RELEASE

Mayor Billy Kenoi submitted a proposed $375,367,419 county budget to the Hawaii County Council today. Here’s his message to the Council that accompanied the budget:

March 1, 2010

The Honorable Chairman J Yoshimoto and

Members of the Hawai‘i County Council

Hawai‘i County Council

25 Aupuni Street

Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720

Aloha, Chairman Yoshimoto and Council Members:

As required by the Hawai‘i County Charter, submitted with this message is the proposed operating budget for the County of Hawai‘i for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011. This balanced budget includes estimated revenues and appropriations of $375,367,419 and includes the operations of eleven of the County’s special funds as well as the general fund.

The difficult economic conditions in Hawai‘i and on the Mainland have led to an unprecedented decline in County revenues. Continued projected declines in real property values as well as steep drops in County collections for charges for services, investment income, license and permit fees, fuel taxes and other revenues require that we make hard choices as we prepare for the year ahead. This balanced budget represents a thorough review of County activities, and continues my administration’s efforts to reduce the cost of government as we refocus on core County services.

Last year, we unfunded 55 vacant positions, which was the largest number of positions ever to be unfunded in a single County budget. This proposed FY 2010-11 budget will abolish or unfund 111 additional positions. This budget also includes furloughs of two days a month for County workers, which amounts to a loss of more than one month’s pay for those employees during the next fiscal year. These unprecedented furloughs reflect the severity of the financial challenges that now confront our entire community, and represent a shared sacrifice on the part of our public workers.

This FY 2010-11 budget is $11,678,784 less than the current year’s budget. Spending under this budget is almost $28 million less than the budget in effect when I took office in 2008. To achieve this balanced budget, we have continued to scrutinize overtime, travel and training, contract services, equipment purchases and other expense items.

To fully grasp the impact of these deep budget cuts, it is important to remember that departments were instructed to reduce their budgets by 5% last fiscal year, and then to cut another 10% in the current budget year. Now, for the new budget year that begins July 1, departments were instructed to reduce expenditures even more, by up to 20%. Operations have been reviewed to identify additional efficiencies that can help maintain services in the face of reduced resources. Departments have aggressively pursued grant funding and have succeeded in increasing total revenue from grants for the upcoming budget year. In particular, I would like to take this opportunity to extend special thanks to Hawai‘i County Council Chair J Yoshimoto and the Hawai‘i County Council for cutting Council spending by $718,591, or more than 19% for the coming year.

The steps we took last year and this year are reshaping County government. The percentage of County spending devoted today to activities such as General Government and Culture and Recreation has decreased significantly, while the share of the County budget devoted to core functions such as Public Safety, Highways & Streets and Health, Education & Welfare has increased. This is part of a continuing strategy to shift County resources to the essential services that are most important to our residents. As part of that effort, this budget continues the County’s free, island-wide bus service, and maintains County spending of $1.5 million per year in support of non-profit organizations that deliver social services.

The Department of Parks and Recreation faced a particularly difficult challenge this year because it was required to reduce spending, and at the same time was required to meet our directives to protect programs essential to the well-being and enrichment for our seniors, children and the most vulnerable in our community. Faced with high demands and scarce resources, the department made the most difficult decision of this budget process. Funding for the Hawai‘i County Band and the West Hawai‘i Band has been eliminated from the FY 2010-11 budget. The members and director of the two bands, all part-time employees except for the director, have been notified that their jobs will be ending.

Also impacting our employees was the decision to implement a furlough plan to reduce costs while retaining employees in their positions. The budget, as submitted, includes the implementation of two furlough days per month for employees other than those in UPW Bargaining Unit 1, SHOPO Bargaining Unit 12 and Firefighters Bargaining Unit 11. The furlough plan includes elected officials, appointees and excluded managerial employees. Police and Fire employees in the identified bargaining units are currently covered by contracts that do not include furloughs. Negotiations are ongoing with UPW. The furloughs will result in a 9.23% pay reduction for affected employees.

As real property values have continued to decline, the County’s primary source of revenue is poised to drop by more than 11%. After the FY 2009-10 decrease in property tax revenue of $15,094,000 (6.55%), an additional loss of this magnitude would leave the County unable to sustain basic operations and services. For this reason, we are proposing revenue-neutral rate adjustments that will adjust tax rates to ensure that the County collects the same amount of property tax in FY 2010-11 as it did in FY 2009-10. The tax on individual parcels will most likely vary from current taxes.

The real property assessed valuations used are still preliminary figures and the values certified in April may vary from those assumed here. The final budget presented to you in May will be based on the final numbers and will include a specific rate proposal.

OPERATING BUDGET BY FUND

The following table describes the budgeted expenditures for FY 2009-10 and the proposed budget for FY 2010-11 for each fund.

(Amounts in thousands)

REVENUES BY SOURCE

The following table presents a summary of projected FY 2010-11 revenues from various sources and the changes from the current budget:

(Amounts in thousands)

REVENUE CHANGES

The major changes in projected revenues are as follows:

Real Property Tax. Net real property tax values are projected to decrease by 9.62%. However, real property tax revenue is the same as the FY 2009-10 budget, based on a revenue-neutral rate proposal.

Fuel Tax. Fuel taxes are expected to decrease by 9.7%, or $788,000 due to reduced fuel consumption. This decrease is on top of a similar decrease in the current fiscal year.

Licenses and Permits. The 12.0% drop in this revenue category is due to decreases in liquor licenses ($238,000), construction-related permits ($730,000) and vehicle/trailer weight taxes ($995,000).

Revenue from Use of Money and Property. Interest earnings are expected to decrease by $1.3 million due to the low yield on investments, which is reflective of the current economy.

Intergovernmental Revenues. The $3.3 million, or 5.7% increase in intergovernmental revenues includes funding increases in housing voucher assistance and emergency medical services.

Charges for Services. Revenues from this source are expected to decrease by $4 million due to reductions in automotive charges to special revenue-funded departments, sewer fees and landfill charges.

Other Revenues. The elimination of the current year budget item in the amount of $8.2 million for land sales is the primary factor in the $8.3 million reduction in other revenues.

Fund Balance Carryover. Carryover savings are based on current projections of fund balance.

EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION

The following table presents a summary of projected FY 2010-11 expenditures from various sources and the changes from the current budget:

(Amounts in thousands)

EXPENDITURE CHANGES

In addition to the cuts made by the departments, the unfunding of additional vacant positions and the inclusion of furlough adjustments, major changes in projected expenditures are as follows:

General Government

• Finance. The budget for building rents has decreased by $649,000 due primarily to the reopening of the Hawai‘i County Building, which allowed the county to vacate leased office space.
• Planning. The department’s budget has decreased with the absence of funding for new community development plans.
• Public Works. Reductions in estimates for fuel expense, janitorial services, electricity, insurance and facility repairs contributed to a net decrease in budget.

Public Safety

• Prosecuting Attorney. The Prosecuting Attorney’s budget reflects a reduction in grant funding of $799,000.
• Flood Control. The decrease in flood control funding is due to transferring drywell cleaning costs to the Highway Fund.
• Animal Control. Current contract negotiations with the service provider for animal control are expected to result in reduced costs.

Highways and Streets

• Mass Transit. The Transit office is projecting a $910,000 increase in grant-funded expenditures.
• Highways. The Department of Public Works is earmarking $1 million for work on roads-in-limbo.

Health, Education and Welfare

• Housing. An increase in grant funding results in a $2.2 million increase in voucher rental subsidy payments.
• Social Services. Despite declining revenues and shrinking budget, the County’s budget for distributing funds to non-profit agencies will be retained at $1.5 million in the FY 2010-11 budget.

Culture and Recreation

• Bands. The Hawai‘i County and West Hawai‘i bands have been removed from this budget proposal.

Sanitation and Waste Disposal

• Solid Waste Division. The Solid Waste budget has decreased with the reductions in contract services, cover material costs and recycling expenditures.
• Vehicle Disposal. The Vehicle Disposal budget will decline from approximately $4 million to about $3 million, a reduction of about 25 percent.

Health Fund

• Health Benefits. Health costs, including post-employment benefits, are expected to increase with the continuing increase in premium rates. The health insurance rates for next fiscal year have not yet been set by the Employer Union Trust Fund, so increases to this budget item are possible.

POSITION CHANGES

The administration has continued to analyze vacant positions and to fill only those that are immediately required for effective operations. The budget reflects the deletion or unfunding of 111 positions in FY 2010-11. Additional vacant positions remain funded, as they are deemed essential to basic County operations.

• Four temporary positions were deleted from the Fireworks Enforcement section of the Fire Department budget. With the establishment of the Fireworks Auditor as required under state law, these positions are no longer needed.
• Efforts are ongoing to reduce staffing through attrition, and with this budget an additional 62 vacant positions have been unfunded, for a savings of $2,350,671.
• As discussed above, 34 staffed Hawai‘i County Band positions and 11 staffed West Hawai‘i Band positions have been vacated as the result of layoffs and have been unfunded, saving $347,027.

CONCLUSION

This budget is $11.7 million less than the current year’s budget, but that number does not begin to reflect the painful effects of the budget cuts proposed here on our community at large, and our employees and their families. That number also does not reflect the continuing challenges we face in this difficult economic climate as state and county governments across the nation struggle to balance their budgets. Some members of the state Legislature advocate seizing the Counties’ share of the hotel room tax, a step that would strip another $18 million in revenue out of this County budget, leaving us no choice but to increase property taxes. My administration will continue to advocate for fair treatment at the Legislature, and will oppose any effort to unfairly shift the tax burden to County of Hawai‘i residents.

Demand for County services such as police protection, fire protection and other County services is always growing, and many County agencies are experiencing increased demands as the effects of a weak economy are felt by more and more people. It is essential that County government provide stability and security in meeting the basic public safety, sanitation, transportation and other service needs of our citizens. We will meet our responsibility to ensure that adequate resources are available to continue and expand services as needed, and to maintain a strong and financially sound County government.

This difficult budget process presents our administration with a continuing mandate to overhaul County government. We must invest our scarce resources in programs and projects that our residents must have, while shifting resources away from those programs that we can no longer afford. In the months ahead you will hear more about steps my administration will take to improve County government efficiency and adapt our government to today’s challenging economic environment. We all understand the lingering national and local economic difficulties will continue to put pressure on County government resources, and my administration’s strict review and reprioritization of County spending will enable us to deal with those challenges.

Aloha,

William P. Kenoi

MAYOR

MEDIA RELEASE

The County of Hawaii Mass Transit Agency administrative office is moving to the Hilo Iron Works Building effective Monday, March 1, 2010. The new address for Mass Transit is 1266 Kamehameha Avenue, Suite A-2.

Customers purchasing shared-ride taxi coupons or requesting bus schedules and service information may do so at the new location beginning Monday, March 1.

There will be no change in the Mass Transit office hours or the office telephone number. Office hours will continue to be from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the telephone number for the Mass Transit Agency will continue to be 961-8744.

Mass Transit’s old site on Lanikaula Street will be used for bus operations only starting March 1.

MEDIA RELEASE

Hawai‘i County’s public parks, gyms and other facilities are safe for public use, said Robert Fitzgerald, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. An article in Saturday’s Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald (2/20/10) may have given readers a different impression.

The article described the challenges the Department faces with potentially hazardous materials in its aging facilities but did not say that areas where hazardous materials have been identified are cordoned off and not accessible by the public.

All County Parks and Recreation facilities that are currently open to the public are safe to use, Fitzgerald said in response to the article.

In addition, every employee in the Parks and Recreation Department has been trained to recognize potential hazards for the protection of employees and the public.

The County began inspecting for hazardous materials in its facilities under a program initiated by the County in July 2008. The purpose was to catalog the findings for use in conjunction with future construction projects and to develop Department-wide hazardous materials management, repair and response procedures.

All of the hazardous materials findings are kept at the Department of Parks and Recreation’s administrative offices and may be viewed during regular business hours. Anyone with questions or concerns regarding Parks and Recreation facilities is encouraged to call Director Bob Fitzgerald at 961-8311.

The total number of bills introduced by biennium, according to records at the House Office of the Chief Clerk:

2010 – 1,151
2009 – 1,843

2008 – 1,484
2007 – 1,967

2006 – 1,475
2005 – 1,786

2004 – 1,296
2003 – 1,691

2002 – 1,163
2001 – 1,691

2000 – 1,270
1999 – 1,755

1998 – 1,296 *First session that bill limit guidelines were implemented.
1997 – 2,329

1996 – 1,793
1995 – 2,354

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MEDIA RELEASE

HILO – The Governor’s Council of Neighbor Island Advisors for East Hawai‘i will meet on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 5:00 p.m. in the County of Hawai‘i, Aging and Disability Resource Center, which is located at 1055 Kino‘ole Street, more well known as the Old Sun Sun Lau Building. The public is encouraged to attend.

Department of Human Services Deputy Director Henry Oliva and national consultant Sandie Hoback will brief the council on the proposed eligibility reorganization and reduction-in-force within the department. The Department is proposing to create the Eligibility Processing Operations Division (EPOD) which would streamline the processing of applications and renewals for public assistance and save taxpayers money. EPOD is modeled after the ACCESS Florida initiative, which has gained national attention for its efficiency and for satisfaction ratings among both customers and government employees.

Governor Linda Lingle created councils of neighbor island advisors to give neighbor island residents a stronger voice in state government. The Governor’s Council of Neighbor Island Advisors for East Hawai‘i holds monthly public meetings to seek community input, advise the Governor of important issues and make recommendations for state boards and commissions.

The members of the Council are Julie Hugo, Alton Okinaka, Norman Stahl, Carol VanCamp, Albert Nakaji, Scott Enright and Jennifer Zelko.

Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate at this meeting may call 243-5796 for assistance. For additional information on the Governor’s Council of Neighbor Island Advisors, neighbor island advisory committees, including meeting agendas and minutes, visit the Governor’s Web site at www.hawaii.gov/gov