MIN CHC 1990-03-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ROBERT E. BETHEA, CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE 2 HAWAII COUNTY CHARTER COMMISSION March 27, 1990 A six week period should be more than ample time to review the County budget; however, since the Council is only a part time body, perhaps additional time could be considered. Two alternatives would be either to accelerate the May 1 deadline for submission or to extend the June 30 deadline for adoption. Submission of the Mayor ' s budget before the present deadline would not be advisable. Two very important reasons are : 1) The Hawaii State Legislature provides approximately 20% of the operating revenues to the County. . The grant-in-aid amount, however, is not known until late April . A variance in amount of even $1 million would have serious ramifications for the operating budget . 2) Certification of real property values is submitted on. April. 20 . This information ,is used to determine tax revenues for the ensuing year. Submission of a budget without accurate real property value estimates would also not be in the County' s best interest. Real property taxes generate 60% of our total County revenues . - If tax revenue projections were to change after submission of the budget to council, I do not believe it to be the intent of the Charter to allow the Council to initiate such changes to the operating budget before the Mayor has had an opportunity to recommend adjustments to the Council . It is my current understanding that the June 30 deadline for adoption of the operating budget is absolute. In other words , the budget ordinance must be signed by the Mayor or the Mayor ' s veto overriden by Council by June 30 . It is this latter restriction which shortens the Council review period since, in accordance with the Charter, "If it fails to do so, the operating budget submitted by the mayor shall be deemed adopted by the council as the operating budget for the ensuing fiscal year. " Perhaps consideration should be given that the Council must adopt the operating budget by June 15 . Only items vetoed by the Mayor would be allowed to carry over into the new fiscal year and be resolved by override or by failing to override the Mayor ' s veto . Language is offered as follows : 844