Mayor Mitch Roth unveiled a $794.3 million budget Tuesday to carry Hawaii County through the next fiscal year starting in July.
The proposed operating budget is about 1.1% larger than the current budget, due in part to “uncontrollable cost increases” relating to goods and services nationwide, and new contracts for all of the county’s collective bargaining units.
On the other hand, county revenues are also projected to increase thanks to the county’s transient accommodations and general excise taxes.
“The budget reflects our administration’s commitment to maintaining crucial services while making significant investments in long-overdue infrastructure maintenance projects essential to preserving Hawaii Island’s natural and cultural resources,” Roth said in a statement. “The investments are crucial to creating a sustainable Hawaii Island, where future generations can thrive and succeed.”
Among those investments are increases to the county’s infrastructure and maintenance funds — $57 million to the Highway Fund and $47 million to the Solid Waste Fund, increases of 21% and 7% from last year, respectively — in order to rehabilitate some of the county’s ailing facilities such as the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Roth said that, without immediate action, a failure of the treatment plant could lead to “a situation like the Red Hill crisis or worse.”
A priority focus of the budget also is to upgrade the county’s information technology systems, including hiring and training 10 new staff positions and improving the county’s hardware to the tune of $4.8 million. The budget also raises the Parks and Recreation maintenance budget to $2 million.
The budget also includes nearly $10 million for projects addressing homelessness and another $9 million for housing production.
Other increases include $2.2 million more to the Hawaii Police Department to replace and maintain its vehicle fleet, $1.6 million more for bridge inspections and improvements, $4.5 million more for roadside maintenance and paving, and $11.8 million more to Mass Transit to account for an increase in contracted services and equipment.
Also included with the budget was a six-year capital improvement plan for the county, which includes 44 separate projects requiring a total of $345 million in funding. Most prominent among those projects is $125 million for upgrades to the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“These investments are critical to the future of the County of Hawaii,” Roth’s statement concluded. “That said, we look forward to working closely with the Hawaii County Council as we prepare a responsible budget to meet the needs of those we serve and those who serve us — past, present, and future— we’re in this together.”
The County Council will continue to discuss the proposed budget and capital improvement plan today and Thursday during a special meeting of the Finance Committee.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.