2011-04-27 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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partnerships. Collective bargaining and procurement presents certain challenges, but not insurmountable. We have been very fortunate for a long period of time in Hawai‘i because government has been providing a lot of resources to the community, disproportionately so,if you look at the federal dollars we receive. But we need to be very cognizant that Washington D.C. is 435 Congressman and 100 U.S. Senators. 535people, powerful, influential advocating for their constituents. Hawai‘i has four. When our dear beloved senior senators, both 86 years of age retire, Maize Hirono is our senior congress person. She’s ranked 364 out of 435 and in the minority. Colleen Hanabusa is probably 435 or thereabouts. That’s our seniority. Whoever takes the senate seats, what I’m saying is we’re going from battling California, Texas, Florida, New York for resources to battling the federated states of Micronesia, Guam and American Samoa for resources. That’s going to be a very different world that we have to recognize and be prepared for. We’re not going to get a largest, you know, we’re not going to get $10 million from the senator and we have a inaudible $20 million, 50, 100 million provides direct appropriation over $450 million a year. What’s going to happen to that? That’s why I think APEC presents a great opportunity for us to pull back and Randy is working very diligentlyon it, on the Asian Pacific Rim, our partnership investment. Why even fly to Washington D.C. right, years from now. Who is going to help you there? What kind of support you’re going to get? But our friends from around the rim, when we talk about renewable energy, when we talk about science and technology for our children. When we talk about creating a new economy, a 24 century knowledge based economy. Those are where our resources are going to come from. What do we need to have the quality of life in our community? You need three things. To create a thriving, vibrant economy that allows our working families to raise healthy, safe children. That’s all we need. It’s that simple. You need people, you need ideas, and you need capital. We’ve got the people. We’ve got the ideas. Where is the capital coming from? That’s going to be the question. But I’mnot going tobs you or any of you. I asked Bill all the time, how’s it going? You get some stuff? You get some updates? You get some ideas? Because we want good ideas and not political. Not like you do something. Eh, that was my idea. Whatever. Congratulations. Put your name on a trophy you like. Who cares whose idea that is. As long as it’s a good one that works and helps the people. That’s all that matters. MS. WONG: We have the draft in the works and since we have you here, very glad to have you here, we have your ear at this point and I’d like to open it up to the commissioners so that they can ask you a question or make any statements. MAYOR KENOI: Sure, and I’ll make short answers. That was broad, big rush kind. This time will be more short kind. Go ahead, anybody? Any questions on anything? MR. ARMOUR: One of the things we looked at is not only cutting cost of government but increasing revenues that are due to the county. What are you doing in bringing back like some of the things that were brought up about tax bills and property not being appraised property? You got the agricultural exemption and they don’t deserve it. The other thing was the tipping fees, landfills? MAYOR KENOI: I met with Dora Beck yesterday. We’re talking about, she wants to restructure the entire –oh, I should talk to the department head first. Eh, your job gone. The mayor said you guys history. Actually, restructure, we had a HR. What we do is so 15