COM 0103.000 2020-2022 Part 1, Volume 1

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Jatv.oc ti ... .v°• • �,,''. Lee E.Lord 41,o• ' Managing Director Mitchell D.Roth - + „• f�c+I% Mayor ' = � � Robert H.Command •ar•T • ,o N' ` ' Deputy Managing Director Cfaunfv Ttiguari ®f ic8 of flp Alvin 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawai'i 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 r�.r (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 CJ C ; S k } March 1, 2021 Maile Medeiros David, Council Chair and Members of the Hawai`i County Council County of Hawai`i ..:. 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Council Members: As required by the Hawai`i County Charter, submitted with this message is the proposed operating budget for the County of Hawaii for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. This balanced budget includes estimated revenues and appropriations of$590,800,952 and consists of the operations of thirteen of the County's special funds as well as the General Fund. This proposed FY 2021-22 budget is$4,788,024 or 0.8 percent larger than the FY 2020-21 budget. The primarily status quo budget includes the additional $3.2 million transfer to the Disaster and Emergency Fund, as approved by voters in November, and covers our departments' basic needs. Due to an economy ravaged by COVID-19, we felt it prudent to devise a conservative,bare-bones budget that will allow us to maintain essential public services while aiding in our County's recovery from the pandemic without adding to our shortfall. The current budget proposal still has many unknowns, as the State Legislature convenes to discuss many bills that will have a wide array of impacts on our budget. In that light, we are continuing to fight for full funding from the State for the Emergency Medical Services and West Hawai`i Ocean Safety programs. We stand ready to adapt to any changes that may occur but intend to advocate heavily for favorable outcomes for our County. Unfortunately,many of our departments continue to have unmet needs, especially as some of their grants have been reduced or eliminated entirely. To create an adequate revenue projection, we conservatively estimated our revenues based on the current year's actual collections. We are not expecting any Transient Accommodation Tax again for the fiscal year 2021-22 budget. Our other revenue collections and projections continue to remain low, and the budget was developed accordingly. All departments have pitched in to help with our shortfalls. The only things added to the budget were necessities to meet federal mandates, charter amendments and uncontrollable cost increases, such as Our insurance costs and payments County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Comm.No. p�!/3 Ref. To: • FC0 -_ Ref. DateMAR ` 2E2te.''