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<br /> FROM: CH RIST]NA HELIKER TO: HI COUNTY COUNCIL DAVE: 5/15107- TIME: 7:42:50 AM PAGE 1 OF 1 <br /> May 14, 2001 <br /> _ . ~ ~ f f <br /> To: Finance Committee, Hawaii County Council <br /> From: Christina Heliker <br /> President, Board of Directors <br /> Hawaii Island Humane Society <br /> Re: Testimony Bi1138, Operating Budget for the County of Hawaii <br /> I urge the Hawaii County Council to adequately fund the Hawaii Island Humane <br /> Society (HIHS) for the coming fiscal year. At the bare mnumum, please support the <br /> administration's revised budget for HIHS. <br /> Last year we were overtaken by huge increases in employee benefits, workers <br /> compensation insurance, and the price of fuel. Rather than cut services mid-way through <br /> the year, we are spending $115,000 of HIHS funds to make up the shortfall. The <br /> projected shortage would have been even larger if we had not left several staff positions <br /> unfilled. <br /> Our projected FY2001 expenses total $765,900. The administration's revised budget <br /> allocates $778,000 for animal control. This will allow us to operate in the black only if <br /> we do not fill vacant positions. If the price of gas goes to $3 per gallon, we will be <br /> unable to respond to many of the over 8000 calls for assistance that we receive each year. <br /> HIHS cannot subsidize the county contract again with our own funds as we have in the <br /> last two fiscal years. The Board of Directors has a fiscal and legal responsibility to <br /> ensure that the organization does not go bankrupt. We simply have no funds left to <br /> donate to the contract in the coming fiscal year. <br /> Please bear in mind that spending more money on animal control is not a matter of <br /> "putting animals before people." As the Legislatively Auditor's report on animal Control <br /> notes, "The control of animals in Hawaii County is a function ofpublic health and <br /> safety. " <br /> We are grateful to the Finance Director for working with our Executive Director to <br /> increase the administration's original budget proposal. We hope that the County Council <br /> will work with us in the same spirit of cooperation. <br /> moo. ~ ~ ~ . <br /> file No. <br /> Fief. To:,~.....,,~ <br /> <br />