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The Honorable Chairman J Yoshimoto and Members of the County Council May 5, 2010 Page 7 recession. We are all witness to the effects of the weak economy around us, but we also recognize the assets and advantages that we are blessed with. We know that our community is resilient and resourceful, and we are committed to helping one another through this difficult time. This budget represents difficult choices, cautious optimism, and realistic expectations for a recovery we know will come. We know our island economy will rebound, but we must conserve our resources and carefully target our economic development initiatives to benefit those sectors where our assistance will yield the greatest results. At the same time, we must increase government efficiency to meet the growing demand for public safety, transportation services, and programs for seniors and children. We need to stretch our resources to protect the most vulnerable among us while preparing our community for a better, more prosperous future. With your help, we can do all of this and still reduce spending to live within our means. This budget proposal would spend less next year than we are budgeted to spend this year, but it will provide public services at current levels. Employees and vendors will continue to be paid on a timely basis. We will continue to meet all of our financial obligations, maintain our strong financial ratings and increase our borrowing power, providing the County with a strong foundation to confront the challenges we collectively face. My staff and I welcome the opportunity to discuss this budget in further detail with you and to answer any concerns that you may have. Thank you for you consideration. Aloha, -eke William P. Kenoi MAYOR Attachments County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.