With scant information to go on, the County Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to add $10 million to the county Parks and Recreation budget, doubling the repairs and improvements line item for the department.
The fast-tracked budget increase skipped the customary stop at the council’s Finance Committee and was instead waived directly to the council by Finance Committee Chairwoman Karen Eoff. Eoff said the money was fast-tracked at the request of the administration so it could be used in the current budget year that ends June 30.
“It’s pretty self-explanatory,” Eoff said at the time.
The $10 million increase went through so quickly, however, the council members approved it 7-0 on first reading during their April 5 meeting without even knowing where the money was coming from or on what it would be spent.
The Council approved the $10 million increase 9-0 Wednesday after hearing a partial list of projects from Parks and Recreation Deputy Director James Komata. After being pressed by Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille and Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung, Komata listed some of the projects it would benefit.
“I don’t have a list of projects that total $10 million,” Komata said. “Going forward, the appropriation would ensure we have some built-in flexibility as to what we’ll need in the future.”
He clarified after the meeting that there isn’t an emergency, but the department has some projects recently awarded and out to bid that will need additional financing. A repaving project at Lincoln Park in Hilo, for example, turned out to be more complicated than first thought, requiring additional money.
Projects Komata named also included the Konawaena High School swimming pool, Kohala skate park, re-roofing for the civic auditorium in Hilo and the Waimea community center, and the Hilo Bayfront trails project.
“We also have projects that needs will pop up unbeknownst to us,” he added.
Komata agreed to send the Council a written list of projects after the vote.
Although it could seem like a case of putting the cart before the horse, Eoff said afterward that she relied on the Finance Department and Parks and Recreation when officials told her there was a hurry for the money and it would go toward needed projects.
“I definitely support the idea of putting the parks in good condition,” Eoff said.
Mayor Billy Kenoi made new and improved parks a cornerstone of his legacy after almost eight years in office. The mayor’s term ends in December, and the administration is scurrying to finish his list. Kenoi did not respond to a text message for more information by press time Wednesday.
There was still no clear indication of where the money is coming from, other than “general obligation bonds, capital projects fund, fund balance and/or other sources,” as listed on the agenda.
“Where’s the money going to come from?” Chung asked.
“I don’t know what the funding sources will be,” responded Komata, referring Chung to the Finance Department.
“We don’t see this as a shortage or cost over budget,” Deputy Finance Director Lisa Miura said later. “There are repairs and maintenance needed that could also come up through the year for projects that we didn’t anticipate.”
She listed the same “general obligation bonds, capital projects fund, fund balance and/or other sources,” as listed on the agenda.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
