2015-COH - Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

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approximately 1.45 million, with an approximately 2.1 percent increase from the previous year's count of 1.42 million. For the most part, the County is less dependent on tourism than the other islands in the State, but the Kona airport terminal modernization project is budgeted at $60-70 million and the State plans on completing the design phase shortly and beginning construction by the summer. Construction —The outlook for the construction industry based on building permits seems to be improving despite conflicting information being provided by the continual decline in recorded construction jobs. Total number of building permits authorized in June 2015 was up by 56.0 percent compared to the same month a year ago and total value of building permit authorized was up by 11.0 percent for the same period. According to the Economic Forecast by First Hawaiian Bank, private building permits are up from less than $30 million per month in 2010 to more than $60 million per month in 2015. Several large construction projects and exciting changes are in store for the citizens on each side of the island. In addition to the Kona airport construction scheduled to begin by summer, the east side of the island is anxiously awaiting the changes being brought on by the new management of the Naniloa property by Hilton, through its Doubletree brand. A new airport fire station of about $20 million is slated for Hilo, in addition to the construction project already in the design phase for the Kona airport. There is also much single-family residential construction activity planned for the Hilo side including the 56 lots of Hilo Hillside Estates, 37 lots of Punahou Mauka Estates, 19 lots of Lake View Estates and a 49 lot subdivision being developed on land below the Hilo Municipal Golf Course. Major Initiatives For the Year During the year, the County focused on construction projects relating to housing, sanitation and public safety, and other issues affecting the quality of life in the County. Public Safety—One of the top priorities for the Police Department remains the securing of funding for the South Kona Police Station along with planning for a new station in the Puna District. In the continuation of efforts to better serve the community, the Department has also selected a vendor to provide a modernized and fully integrated Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS), and collaborated with other county departments on modernizing the County's radio system. The Fire Department instituted home inspections to identify fall hazards in the homes of the elderly and installation of smoke detectors, with the goal of improving the safety of the home for our elderly population. Planning —The Department was busy preparing for the move of the County's Building Permit process to become their responsibility from the Department of Public Works. The Department was also busy with the acquisition of approximately $1.2 million in properties by the Geothermal Relocation and Community Benefits Fund. 3