2011-01-14 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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begin to do a better job of assessing commercial and industrial properties and hotel properties and resort. I’m sorry folks. I think we’re missing a hell of a lot more money there than in non-collection of taxes early because of building permit. So, if I had a choice of where I would want to address some of the collection shortfalls, it would be in having a top to bottom review. We had a proposal that looked at spending the money in order to provide that assessment by outside sources for a reassessment of our property tax base. But I don’t disagree, Pat. It is an area I know we can do it, but I’m not sure the legal things,and Corp Counsel and Mr. Takaba would have to do some work on that. MS. PROVALENKO: Thank you. MS. NICHOLSON: Any other questions? MS. O’HARA: I just have one small point that I’d like to ask Mr. Hoffman about. You’d made a suggestion of a four-day work week. But in discussion about union collective bargaining, this is something that’s hard to make a reality out of. MR. HOFFMANN: Yes. And that’s why although it sounds good, and a lot of times in discussions like this, council members do posture a little where we do say this is a great idea. Boy we got to do it. And everybody says, yeah, yeah. But a lot of us know that’s not probably realistic. MS. O’HARA: And it’s unfortunate that it can’t be more flexible because there is a lot of modifications one can make to the county work schedule, staggered hours, other things that could really benefit the county at large. You also mentioned that you feel that boards and commissions should be used more pro-actively to bring in the expertise that does not reside in the county. Most boards and commissions are volunteers and a little bit taxed to bring their expertise there on a volunteer basis, but we do seem to have sufficient membership, barely, on this commission. MR. HOFFMANN: You’re a five-member commission? MS. O’HARA: Six. We’re missing three members. I believe your district is not represented. MS. PROVALENKO: No, it is. I’m from his district. MS. O’HARA: I’m sorry. It’s the other West Hawai‘i. MR. HOFFMANN: This is my district member. MS. O’HARA: Sorry. But one of the concerns I have here about shifting some of the strategic planning that boards and commissions can address is whether or not they will be listened to. I believe that the legislative side of county government, the county council, is respectful and interested in the information that it receives from boards and commissions. I’m not so sure that it’s viewed in the same manner, and this gets back to the way we’ve always done things, and the way we do business. I’m not so sure that the opinions and recommendations set forth by boards and commissions who are 21