COM 0111.000 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Council March 1, 2011 Page 8 • Public Works. Increase in estimates for fuel expenses contributed to a net increase in budget. Public Safety • Fire. The department expects a $1.4 million increase in their EMS contract with the State of Hawai `i. • Police. The Wireless E -911 grant funds available for use increased by $1.2 million over the current year. Highways and Streets Mass Transit The estimated increase in fuel cost is due to fuel price increases and expansion of services. • Highway Fund This budget includes the use of $3.2 million of the Highway Fund excess fund balance to help finance operations of the Mass Transit Agency. This reduces General Fund expenditures, and represents an increase in the use of Highway Fund revenues to finance the Mass Transit network. • Highways The Department of Public Works is earmarking an additional $500,000 for work on roads -in- limbo. Health, Education and Welfare Social Services. Despite declining revenues and reductions in spending, the county's budget for non - profit agencies will remain at $1.5 million in 2011 -12. We have protected this funding despite three years of budget cuts because of our commitment to the non -profit organizations that support the most vulnerable in our community. Debt Service • Deferred Debt Payments This budget will shift a portion of funding for principal payments of debt service from fiscal year 2011 -12 to fiscal year 2012 -13 to create a one -time savings of $3 million in fiscal year 2011 -12. This shifting of the transfer by several months will not incur any additional interest or other costs to the county. Health Fund Health Benefits. In recent years, the County of Hawaii has made two separate payments related to public worker health care. The first payment is used to directly purchase health coverage for active and retired employees. This payment is a binding obligation on the part of each of the counties and the state, and will continue uninterrupted next year and into the future to ensure that all public workers and retirees receive all of the health benefits to which they are entitled. This proposed budget includes $28.8 million to provide coverage to active employees and retirees, which will continue the current level of health coverage for all. The County of Hawaii has also made a second health - related payment for the past three years that is designed to pre -fund future obligations the county has incurred to fund retirement health care in the future. This payment, generally known as the Government