COM 0140.019 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Honorable James Arakaki, Chairman And Members, Hawaii County Council May 21, 2003 Page 2 of 3 the plan year, turn over the forfeited amounts to the County. The amount forfeited up until that point in time was approximately $80,000. These monies went back into the general fund. Employees who forfeited monies literally paid monies back to the County. Beginning July 1, 1996, the County opened its own FSP bank account from which the FSP is administered. Our TPA is allowed to use this account to administer the FSP. At the end of the FY, there is no forfeiture check given to the County as all forfeited funds are already in the County's FSP bank account. It is these forfeited amounts with which we are proposing a scholarship program to assist employees in furthering their education or in attending specific classes or workshops that would increase their skills, knowledge, and abilities. In these instances, the scholarships would cover tuition fees and costs of books and supplies. In addition, we wish to use these funds to help finance employees seeking to earn their GED or high school diploma through relieving fiscal "restraints" for not being able to obtain their GED, or for actually delivering the necessary instruction to our employees. For example, if an employee has never pursued night school because the employee could not afford a baby sitter, we may pay the baby sitting costs. Or if we find that we need to have special classes for our employees, we would use these funds to help pay for any expense associated with these special classes. ' Having a scholarship program for our own employees is a resourceful way of improving the skills, knowledge and abilities of our employees without cost to the County. Since the funding comes from employee participants in our FSP, and not from the County general or special funds, we are in a win-win situation. Employees who forfeit monies in essence help other employees and themselves to further their education. The County reaps the benefit of having abetter- educated workforce. Just as fuel tax revenues go toward highway matters, tipping fees go toward solid waste matters, sewer fees go toward the Sewer Fund, golf course revenues go back to the golf course, so too should revenues generated from our employees' pockets go back to the employees in some useful way. Financial assistance to our employees who demonstrate the desire and drive to improve themselves is an excellent way to accomplish this.