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MS. KAWAUCHI: Would it be possible to consolidate these functions with another department by making these duties fall under maybe the Finance Department or the Legislative Auditor? MR. TAKABA: Maybe not so much the Finance Department. When they do the annual operating budget, they go through a series of meetings with the departments, and what they are doing is pretty similar to- - -they try to cut costs as much as they can in order to keep the budget within reason, so, they'll do that part of it. But I think the commission is more like an oversight commission to look at County Government, and whether there's waste or whether there are ways that we can save money. The way it was created was because someone felt that an independent body needed to oversee the spending, or the operations, and whether it's cost effective or efficient. If you put it in a department, it probably won't be as effective as a commission that has oversight over the whole County and can make independent decisions. If it was going to be placed in any segment of government, it would probably be attached to maybe Legislative Auditor's office. Then it's different from the Executive Branch that does the budget, so there would be a check and balance. MR. SHUMWAY: Mr. Chair, I have a question too. CHR. HAITSUKA: Mr. Shumway. MR. SHUMWAY: If it was extended for, say, two years, would there be additional costs? MR. TAKABA: I assume that this is a continuous group. The term is 11 months, but the cost that they go through is not very much, except there are a lot meetings going on. The actual dollars that they spend is really not that much. I haven't had a problem with funding the work of the commission. CHR. HAITSUKA: One thing I noticed is this particular section is not clear as to the term. It says they have to submit a report in 11 months, but it doesn't say anything about what their term limit is. When I read it I didn't know how long they served for. It does say they get appointed one year after the Mayor starts his term, but it doesn't say how long they serve for. There's some ambiguity in it. MS. JARMAN: Mr. Chair, it says, "and lasting eleven months." So I am assuming it is an eleven month commission. That's why I thought that wasn't enough time for them to do their work. MR. TAKABA: You could go longer with not much extra cost. There must have been a reason for them to place this kind of time frame on it; I'm just not sure what that is. CHR. HAITSUKA: Question, Mr. Nahale -a. MR. NAHALE -A: So where it says members will be appointed, but it doesn't have the caveat of Council approval, that means the Mayor just appoints and there's no - -- 13