COM 0216.002 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Pagc 2 The following changes to the proposed Budget were suggested: • Not sell the HSmakua Lands • No lay off of employees • No tax increases • No furlough It was decided that no action would be taken on any of the proposals until the Administration submits the Second Draft. Also, a second meeting will be scheduled for April 14 or 15 with the Administration to go over the lsc draft. The second meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee relating to the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year Budget was held on April 15, 2009 in the Hilo Council Chambers. Council members attending were Pete Hoffmann, Chair of the Committee, Donald Ikeda, Dominic Yagong and Dennis "Fresh" Onishi. Also present were Bill Takaba, Managing Director, Nancy Crawford, Finance Director, Deanna Sako, Deputy Director, Gary Takamura, Budget Administrator, Steve Offenbaker, Council Legislative Assistant, and Kathy Kosaka, Council Legislative Assistant. TAT • Update on the TAT: With a start date of January 1, 2010, the TAT may be reduced by half (to $9 million), with the Counties given the authority to levy a retail sales tax. • Mr. Takaba said, if we lose the TAT, we may wish to look at raising the property tax rate on resort properties as those funds will come directly to the County with the State having no authority to grab. • Mr. Yagong said, the additional $9 million shortfall changes the ballgame - if that happens, then everything is on the table, including the Hamakua lands and 2%. • Mr. Takaba said they are meeting next week and unless there is some definitive news on the TAT, the Mayor's Budget will for the most part remain the same. Fundine of Vacant Positions • After removing the always unfunded positions (training and temporary) and those Federal or State funded, there remains 297 open positions. Removed those non-General Fund positions (Highway, traffic, wastewater, liquor -funded with their own fees) - 256 positions remain open. Eliminated Public Health and Safety positions (police, fire, dispatch, lifeguards, solid waste, & wastewater) and Legislative branch- 119 positions open. Unfunded 42 positions - 77 positions remain open and funded as of February 27c~'. • Mr. Hoffmann suggested unfunding positions for the period of time the Director anticipates it being vacant. Ms. Crawford explained that some of that has already been done. The position on the funded list may in actuality be only funded, for example, for six months. Mr. Yagong asked if public health & safety really are currently jeopardized (with the current vacancies)? If we are going to have a hiring freeze, and that means not to hire anyone (and he prefers this over laying off existing workers or furloughs & pay cuts) why fund the position? Mr. Takaba made the point that the Department Heads are not opposed to unfunding positions, they are ready to do whatever is necessary, but it will be the Administration &