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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: March 21, 2023 Re: Comm.No. 152/Res.No. 75-23 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 1:45 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance,to which was referred Resolution No. 75-23, reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 75-23,transmitted by Finance Director Deanna Sako, via Communication No. 152 <br /> dated March 3, 2023, authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the State of Hawaii, <br /> Department of Human Services. <br /> The Department of Environmental Management seeks to provide financial assistance through the <br /> Low Income Home Water Assistance Program by applying direct credits into eligible participants' <br /> wastewater accounts. <br /> Committee Chair Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder invited Environmental Management Business Manager <br /> Robin Bauman and Environmental Management Deputy Director Brenda Iokepa-Moses to provide <br /> background on this measure. <br /> Committee Member Jenn Kagiwada asked Ms. Bauman about the application process for residents. She <br /> replied that the Hawai`i County Economic Opportunity Council (HCEOC) is handling this program, so <br /> residents would need to contact them for an application. The HCEOC would then review the request and <br /> work with the Department of Environmental Management to get the account information processed. <br /> Ms. Kagiwada then asked when the program would take effect,to which Ms. Bauman replied that as <br /> soon as the measure passes full council,they do not think it will take very long to implement as they <br /> already have some applicants ready to be approved. Ms. Kagiwada asked if Environmental Management <br /> had some information they could put out to the constituency about this program, to which Ms. Bauman <br /> replied that they could provide something. <br /> Committee Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy commented that this program was related to "low-income <br /> families"and asked if there was a clear definition of"low-income." Ms. Bauman replied that since this <br /> was not their funding,they referred that question directly to the source. <br /> Committee Member Michelle Galimba asked for clarification on the funding stream and the departments <br /> involved. Ms. Bauman explained that the application would go to the HCEOC, funded by the <br /> Department of Human Services. If the applicant were approved,the funds would then get transferred to <br /> the Department of Environmental Management and applied to the applicant's wastewater account. <br /> FC Report No. 30 <br />