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<br /> Testimony by Fire Commissioner Bowles before the Finance Committee of the Hawaii <br /> <br /> County Council on 3/11/04 regazding the Fire Department budget for 2004-2005 FY. <br /> Council Members, Staff and Attendees, <br /> I am here to testify in support of the Fire Department budget as submitted by the <br /> Administration. <br /> As you are aware, Fire Chief Oliveira and his staff have prepazed a long range strategic <br /> plan for the department to improve services and bring the manpower up to national <br /> standards. We believe that public safety is the first priority of the County government. <br /> The Fire Commission endorsed the plan and supports the plan without reservation. <br /> Each of you has had the opportunity to discuss, with your Fire Commission member, the <br /> manpower shortages we face around the County. <br /> To address the financial matters in support of the Strategic Plan, The Commission <br /> prepared a revenue review in support of the Plan and concluded that, of the 2004-2005 <br /> budget of $25,286,013, about 39% is funded by the EMS contract with about 60 % from <br /> Real Property Tax and 1% from grants of various kinds. <br /> Funding for the budget for 2004-2005 consists of about 12.36% of the total Real <br /> Property tax revenue. It is the position of the Fire Commission that a long term average <br /> of 11.5% of RPT revenue can maintain the efforts of the Strategic Plan. For FY 2003- <br /> 2004, the Department budget was funded at about 10.43% of RPT revenue leaving the <br /> Strategic Plan deficient. <br /> The Fire Commission strongly urges the Council to support the Fire Department budget <br /> as submitted. <br /> Mahalo for your support ey <br /> Covgty Camd~ <br /> The Hawaii County Fire Commission P/ .SP FC <br /> Comm. No. SZ~•3 <br /> Ref. To: Meg ' <br /> Ref. Uate _„r <br /> <br />