HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0572.007 2002-2004 JNty oc H,~
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GARY SAFARIh COMMI"1°fEES
(~oun~r/nremb<'r ~ ~ Public Works c~ Intervovemmental Relations
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~safarik(~J,iNCrpticner Comer of lluuv!'r Finance
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May l2, 2004
The Honorable Harry Kim
Mayor, County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
RE: Implementing New Road and Highway Construction
Redirecting ResurfacinglRepaving Improvement and Highway Maintenance Functions
Fiscal Year 2004-2005 Budget
Dear Mayor Kim:
The County Council is currently considering two important issues affecting all of our
citizens island-wide. On May 5, 2004, the Council passed on first reading Bill 254,
providing $40 million in general obligation bonds for financing critical and overdue
highway construction and road improvement projects, with an apportionment of the
proceeds among the districts. In addition, the Council also passed on first reading Bill 260,
which would increase the motor vehicle weight tax to fwid ongoing highway maintenance,
resurfacing, paving of roads, and Mass Transit Agency services.
As you know, there is currently a large backlog of road and highway projects, funded by
previous general obligation bond floats in 2003 and 2001, which are in various stages of
planning and design. While I agree that additional positions may be needed in the Plarming
Department and the Department of Public Worlcs to carry out these functions, I do not agree with
your request for additional highway maintenance positions. I believe that the resurfacing and
repaving of roads should be contracted-out to the private sector, rather than done in-house,
without inspections, by Department of Public Works. The employee man-hours performing
these resurfacing and repaving functions, which range up to 40% of their time, could then be
concent-ated on highway maintenance.
Given the additional funding available in this year's budget, high-level positions in the
Planning Department and the Department of Public Works to immediately implement new road
and highway projects (to make infrastructure planning concurrent with development) could be
funded using the additional real property tax revenues and other sources in the FY 2004-2005
budget.
Comm. N ~ 5
Ref. To: _
Ref. Date ~Y,__,
4 ~~nb
Harm l Co;mtr u' a;~ Equal Uppor~run~n~ Prorider « nd l-.mplorer
Additionally, given the priority for new highway construction, especially alternate routes
in both east and west i-Iawai`i, consideration should also be given to contracting-out a larger
portion of planning and engineering work to the private sector, as once these new projects are
completed, there will be less of a need for these planners and engineers.
Your mana`o is appreciated given the complexity and importance of these issues to our
community. We would like to set up a meeting as soon as possible to further our discussions.
Sincerely, ~ ~
Gar}¢/Sa~jaril<, Chair
Public ~orlcs & Intergover~miental Relations
GS/sb
ce: James Y. Arakaki
Aaron S.Y. Chung
Bruce McClure
Chris Yuen