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Harry Kim <br />Mayor <br />Couutp of'abiail <br />25 Aupuni Street, Room 215 • Hilo, Hawaii 967204252 . (808) 961 -8211 . Fax (808) 961 -6553 <br />KONA: 75 -5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103 • Kailm -Kona, Hawaii 96740 <br />(808) 329 -5226 • Fax (808) 326 -5663 <br />March 1. 2005 <br />Gary Safarik, Chairman and <br />Members of the Hawaii County Council <br />Hawaii County Council <br />25 Aupuni Street <br />Hilo, HI 96720 <br />Dear Chairman Safarik and Council Members: <br />Dixie Kaetsu <br />Managing Director <br />Peter L. Hendricks <br />Deputy Managing Director <br />As required by the Hawaii County Charter, I am submitting to you with this message the <br />proposed operating budget for the County of Hawaii for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006. <br />This balanced budget includes estimated revenues and appropriations of $277,449,000, and <br />includes the operations of eleven of the County's special funds as well as the general fund. <br />Preparation of the budget involves estimating costs such as debt service, retirement and <br />medical insurance requirements and obtaining estimated expenditures from departments. This <br />year, although the departments were instructed to submit a status quo spending plan, they <br />were allowed to include inflationary increases and present additional needs in the form of <br />supplemental budget requests. <br />As you will see, the budget presented to you today is different in a significant way from <br />previous budget submittals. Compared to the year 2000, the fiscal condition of the County <br />today is greatly improved. Hawaii County has finally emerged from the economic slump that <br />began in the 1970s when the sugar plantations in East Hawaii began to close. For many <br />years, West Hawai`i's economy and growth were a positive factor that enabled the County to <br />maintain services and avoid the personnel and other cutbacks that would otherwise have been <br />necessary. The present economic prosperity enjoyed by much of the private sector islandwide <br />is shared by the County government, and this budget reflects that status. <br />REAL PROPERTY TAX <br />Due to rising property values on the Big Island and the concern that these new values will <br />translate to higher tax bills and a hardship for many of our residents, last year the Council <br />adopted three ordinances that offer real property tax relief to qualified homeowners. As a <br />result of the Council's action, homeowners are now assured of protection from increased <br />property taxes caused by the extremely rapid inflation in real property values. These relief <br />measures are described below. Comm. W^ ZX <br />Ref. To: FL <br />Ref T — ZUU5 <br />(Note: Detailed budget (Bill 42) and Volume II of the Operating Budget (County <br />department budget proposals and program highlights) are on file in the Clerk's <br />Office.) Hawaii County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. <br />