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The Honorable Chairman Gary Safarik <br />and Members of the County Council <br />Page 4 <br />March 1. 2005 <br />• Addressing the housing crisis <br />• Improving our building code <br />• Expanding service to the elderly and their caregivers <br />BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS <br />The lack of resources in the past has caused the County to lag far behind where it should be in <br />maintenance of facilities (stewardship ofpublic assets), provision of services islandwide <br />(equitable distribution of services), meeting legal mandates, and programs listed under <br />administrative priorities. This budget dedicates resources to addressing these goals and <br />objectives. <br />Risk Management: Because of our responsibility for good stewardship of public assets, a <br />new Risk Management Division is proposed within the Department of Finance. Last year, a <br />multi- agency working group under the direction of the Corporation Counsel reviewed the <br />County's risk management activities and found them inadequate. This working group <br />recommended the creation of a Risk Management Division in the Department of Finance to <br />provide overall guidance in areas such as insurance coverage and minimizing risk. To begin <br />to implement this recommendation, a Risk Management Officer and Clerk II are proposed for <br />this new division. <br />Self- insurance Fund: A transfer of $1 million to the Self- insurance Fund is included in the <br />budget. In accordance with the provisions in the Hawaii County Code, this transfer provides <br />a balance in the fund that can be used to cover judgments against the County, and is in line <br />with responsible stewardship of public assets. <br />Disaster and Emergency Fund: A transfer of $1 million to the Disaster and Emergency <br />Fund is proposed. By law, a transfer of at least $100,000 must be made. To help ensure that <br />the County is prepared in case of a declared disaster, the proposal is to transfer $1 million to <br />build up this fund. This also is responsible stewardship of public assets. <br />Environmental Management: Because compliance with legal mandates related to <br />wastewater and solid waste are a top priority, thirteen new positions are included in this <br />budget for the new Department of Environmental Management. One is General Fund funded, <br />and the remainder are in special funds, with emphasis again on solid waste. <br />Finance: Besides Risk Management, other new positions in the Finance Department include <br />two positions in the Treasury Division that will address equitable distribution of services. <br />One is a Motor Vehicle Registration Clerk I to be based in Kona. The other is an Accountant <br />I position that is necessary because of the increased number of improvement districts that are <br />being created to finance public improvements, such as the Coastview /Wonderview water <br />system, the various sewer improvement districts, and other possible improvement districts in <br />Puna and Kona. A new position in Accounts Division will provide technical support for the <br />new FRESH financial computer system to all County departments and help the departments <br />achieve their missions. <br />