COM 0711.137 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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/ 44 % William T. Takaba \y Managing Director William P. Kenos - •: AlC � Mayor - - -- Walter K.M. Lau Deputy Managing Director ••••I a, -- County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720. (808) 961 -8211 • Fax (808) 961 -6553 KONA: 75 -5722 Hanama Place, Suite 102 • Kailua -Kona, Hawai'i 96740 ^� (808) 327-3602 • Fax (808) 326-5663 0 t7 May 5, 2010 29 i The Honorable Chairman J Yoshimoto - u-i 11-1 and Members of the Hawai`i County Council "" _t _- 25 Aupuni Street, ' County of Hawaii Hilo, HI 96720 >" o cn Dear Chairman Yoshimoto and Council Members: As required by the Hawai`i County Charter, the amended operating budget proposal for the County of Hawaii for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011 is hereby submitted. OVERVIEW This balanced budget includes estimated revenues and appropriations of $376,001,627 and includes the operations of eleven of the County's special funds as well as the General Fund. It is $11,044,576 lower than this year's budget, and is $27,203,371 or 6.74 percent lower than the budget in effect when I took office. I present you with this balanced budget proposal during a very difficult time for all of the citizens of this island. The construction, tourism and agricultural sectors all face an extremely challenging economic environment. While we see signs of a potential recovery on the national and local scenes, we must continue to reduce spending, focus on core County services and budget conservatively to provide for stability until our local economy rebounds. This budget accomplishes those objectives. County government is now entering its second consecutive year of budget cuts and spending reductions, and we must prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. My administration confronted a budget shortfall of $38.1 million in the current fiscal year. We have proposed unprecedented budget cuts, employee furloughs and other painful adjustments in this budget to cope with another budget shortfall of $44.8 million next year. Looking further into the future, preliminary projections of declining revenues and increasing costs suggest we can anticipate yet another budget shortfall of more than $31 million in fiscal year 2011 -2012. It is absolutely clear we must roll back government, reverse its growth and make it more affordable. We have led the way in the Office of Management, where we cut overall spending by 4 in my first seven months in office, cut spending by another 29 <at all f d � C omm. to o. I County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. • Ref. To: Ref. Date MAY 0 6 7ftn.