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Honorable Stacy K. Higa <br />Page 2 <br />May 5, 2005 <br />The transfer of $1 million to the Disaster and Emergency Fund to ensure that the <br />County is prepared in case of a declared disaster; <br />A new fire brush truck, ladder/aerial platform vehicle for West Hawaii, and a <br />replacement fire pumper for South Kona, totaling $1.5 million. <br />The addition of positions that will enable the County to comply with legal mandates, <br />improve services to growing and under -served communities, and address <br />administrative priorities. These priorities include speeding up the review of building <br />and other permits, carrying out solid waste and wastewater solutions, increasing hours <br />of operation at some parks facilities, and supporting community development <br />planning. <br />EXPENDITURE CHANGES <br />In addition to the above, funding has been added for the following <br />Improvements to County Facilities. A transfer of $1 million to the Capital Projects <br />Fund is proposed. This will enable the Building Division to assess, design, and construct <br />improvements to County facilities island -wide that are long overdue. This is necessary <br />for good stewardship of public assets. <br />Provision for Public Land Acquisition. This budget also provides $500,000 to be <br />used for the acquisition of public lands to enhance public access to recreational areas, <br />such as the coastal land at Honu`apo. This is also good stewardship of public assets. <br />Community Development Planning. $333,000 has been added to the Research and <br />Development Department budget to fund an island -wide community development <br />planning program that will enable communities to develop and implement community <br />development plans. The money will be used to hire facilitators, purchase supplies, pay <br />travel expenses, and provide training, technical assistance, and outreach to communities. <br />Community development plans are required by the County General Plan. This will <br />complement the work of the Planning Department that has been funded by the $750,000 <br />provided earlier this fiscal year. Community development planning is a Council and <br />administrative priority. <br />Employee Fringe Benefits. We have increased employee fringe benefit projections by <br />$540,000 to update our earlier estimate. Fringe benefits like social security, health <br />insurance and retirement contributions are legal mandates. <br />Coqui Frog Eradication. $350,000 has been added to the Research and Development <br />budget to fund a coqui frog eradication program. This amount includes $100,000 of <br />anticipated state funds. This money will be used to continue the work of the Coqui Frog <br />Working Group made up of representatives from the County, University of Hawaii at <br />Hilo, U.S. Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center, State <br />