Mayor Billy Kenoi took the County Council on an hourlong stroll down memory lane Wednesday as he recounted his administration’s successes throughout the last nearly eight years.
The term-limited Kenoi, shedding his customary aloha shirt for a gray suit, crisp white shirt and blue tie, delivered his last budget presentation during a Finance Committee session that became something of a mutual admiration society before it concluded.
“You always want to leave a place nicer than you found it,” Kenoi said. “The next administration will have a budget that is solid, that has very little fat … while providing all the necessary services.”
There are no increases in the property tax rate in the $462.7 million spending plan, but individual property owners should expect to pay more because of increased property values. Tax revenues from property taxes are expected to increase 7.9 percent to $265 million.
Most of the 5.5 percent spending increase is taken up by raises negotiated with employee unions at the state level, primarily for police and firefighters. Salaries and benefits for county employees account for $15.6 million of the roughly $25 million increase.
The budget also adds six new positions, including one new land use plans checker. The other five positions are for parks caretakers and recreation personnel, to help care for the several new parks under Kenoi’s tenure.
Neither the mayor nor the council members mentioned his looming felony theft trial on charges he misused his county-issued credit card, or pCard, although at least one member of the public brought it up in testimony.
Puna resident Toby Hazel said the mayor’s pCard misuse remains an issue, but she’s also concerned about budget priorities.
“I don’t see that our needs are being met here,” Hazel said. “We’d like you to be smarter, faster, please.”
Testifiers opposing what they call the illegal U.S. occupation of the Hawaiian Islands made up the majority of the roughly dozen testifiers. Others questioned county spending, spoke about a proposed general excise tax currently not in the budget and asked for a better mass transit system.
“I believe there’s a lot of waste going on in our budget,” said Robin Hightower, testifying from Hilo.
“It’s a shame that so much money goes out the door for overtime for employees to pad their retirement,” said Michelle Kerr, speaking from North Kohala. “There doesn’t seem a concern in our county of minding the store, or taking better care of our money.”
A group of Sunset Ridge residents opposed the extension of Hulu Street to Queen Kaahumanu Highway in through their subdivision in West Hawaii, an item in the $144.8 million capital improvement budget.
“We’re very serious about keeping our family safe,” said resident Jennifer Grossart.
Speaking of his eight years of financial planning for the county, the mayor added, “It was hopeful, it was strategic, but now in retrospect, it all made sense.”
“I look back and I cannot believe we got so much done with so little,” he said.
In his first year in office, Kenoi cut the $403 million budget of his predecessor, Mayor Harry Kim, to $386 million. During the depth of the recession, further cuts ensued, to $376 million in 2010, then $367 million, then $365 million.
Council members were quick with the praise.
“It’s amazing, your personal accomplishments, your government accomplishments. … You have took it above and beyond,” said Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan. “I just really want to tell you, how much I admire and respect you.”
“What sets you apart from the others, they were all good, but you are a visionary,” said Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung, who has served as a councilman during the tenure of six mayors. “You have that reputation for getting things done … You’ve just been so inspirational to a lot of people.”
West Hawaii council members, in particular, praised Kenoi’s efforts to unify the two sides of the island by allocating resources more evenly to the west side. Kenoi’s first term coincided with the opening of the West Hawaii Civic Center, which was started by a prior administration. Kenoi did, however, make sure top officials also came from the leeward side, in addition to adding capital projects there.
“People started to feel there was a lot of things happening,” said Council Chairman Dru Kanuha, who represents central Kona. “It’s been a very positive working relationship with myself and my staff.”
“This administration, from Day 1, you have single-handedly made it such that this is indeed one island,” said South Kona/Ka‘u Councilwoman Maile David.
“Your investment speaks so well for our keiki through kupuna,” said Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter. “You leave a legacy of that.”
The mayor is continuing his focus on building and maintaining county parks, creating that legacy for the future. But fixed costs such as salaries, benefits and debt repayments are eating up most of the new money.
Property taxes are by far the biggest source of revenue for county government. The county’s share of the transient accommodations tax on hotels and short-term lodging is second, set this year at slightly more than $19 million. The county also brings in revenue from state and federal grants, interest and user fees.
The council will spend the next two days going through each department’s budget. The mayor is scheduled to submit a final budget proposal in early May. The council has until June 30, the last day of the fiscal year, to amend and pass a budget or the mayor’s budget automatically goes into effect July 1.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
