Comm No 0029.35 - Testimony - CA-13 - Use of Special Funds in Times of Declared Emergency

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CA -7 will deprive Hawaii Island ranchers and farmers of tens of millions of dollars in potential funding for protection of their land for the public benefit. It will drive away matching funds. And what is the corresponding benefit to the people of this County from such an amendment? Nothing. CA -13 is also fatally flawed. Again, it shows a lack of understanding of land conservation by allowing money to be diverted from the Fund whenever the administration deems there to be an emergency. This idea superficially sounds sort of reasonable. However, it really makes the Land Fund inoperable, and here's why: Land protection deals sometimes take years to complete. Sometimes decades. How can a project ever be completed if there is no certainty that the money for it will even be in the Land Fund? How can the County, in good faith, sign a purchase and sale agreement with a willing landowner if the money might be removed from the Land Fund at any time? It can't. No landowner and no conservation organization is going to invest the immense amount of time and money it takes to do land protection if the necessary funds to close the deal might be taken away at any time. Mayor Kenoi raided the Land Fund and the voters went to the polls to prevent it from happening again. Now this administration is trying to resurrect the very loopholes the people sought to close with previous votes. I am reminded of the old saying, "A lack of planning on your part does not make an emergency on my part." The administration has seen fit to divert money from the emergency fund to balance the budget. Shouldn't we use the emergency fund for ... emergencies? Shouldn't the taxpayers have confidence that money they MANDATED to be spent a certain way will be spent that certain way? Doesn't this Commission have an ethical obligation to respect this clear mandate from the voters, especially when they've spoken three times? CA -7 and CA -13 are at best fatally flawed and at worst a cynical attempt to thwart the will of the voters and promote irresponsible development. They must not be allowed to proceed. I'll be very brief about CA -9. In contrast to CA -7 and CA -13, it improves the operation of the Land Fund and increases its effectiveness. There will be a County employee dedicated to and expert in the operation of the Fund. This will be a great help in attracting matching funds and willing partners to take on some of the burden of these projects. You should also know that a group of island citizens, of which I am a part, is organizing a conservation organization dedicated only to Hawaii Island. It will work directly with the County on projects benefiting us all. CA -9 allows the Fund to pay for staff time, a critical component of getting large projects done in a timely manner. So please support CA -9 and support, rather than hinder, the taxpayer's expressed intention that the Land Fund not be drained away for other uses, contrary to their belief and expectation. Thank you!