HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0671.006 2004-2006 ~,1MtV oI y-_
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Harry Kim Dixie Kaetsu
Mayor • Managing Director
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•r;•;;•N;Y Barbara Kossow
deputy Managing Director
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25 Aupuni Sheet, Room 215 Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 • (808) 961-821 L • Pax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808)329-5226 Fax (808)326-5663
March 24, 2006
The Honorable Stacy Higa, Chairperson, and
Members of the Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai' i 96720
Re: Bi11214
General Fund -Fund Balance Appropriation
Dear Chairperson Higa and Council Members:
Bi11214 proposes to appropriate excess and available General Fund fund balance to
departments to meet urgent and critical needs. It was up for second and final reading at the
County Council meeting on March 22, 2006. At that meeting, a Draft 3 was proposed by the
Council. This draft contained significant amendments, so action was deferred due to Sunshine
Law concerns. Specifically, in the proposed Draft 3, certain departmental appropriations
would be placed in the Council's Contingency Relief account. Departments would then have
to come to the Council andjustily the need for the funds, with a resolution required to transfer
the funds to a departmental account.
Upon review of the proposed Draft 3 of Bi11214 that is dated March 22, the departments and
accounts in question are:
Finance Department 010-121-5121.02 $100,000
010-121-5129.01 20,618
010-121-5129.02 3,132
010-121-5129.10 7,250
Civil Service 010-151-5151.01 26,500
Police Department 010-201-5201.02 4,000
Fire Department 010-221-5221.10 264,070
Public Works 010-231-5231.01 2],000
Total 446 570
I commend the County Council for taking its responsibility for fiscal oversight seriously.
However, this action does raise concerns due to timing issues. Bill 214 will again be up for
second reading on April 5, when there will be less than three months remaining in the current
fiscal year. These funds must be expended or encumbered by June 30, a very short window
for procurement or hiring purposes. To add an additional delay, even if only two weeks,
Comm. No.
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Hawaii County is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
March 24, 2006
The Honorable Stacy Higa
Page 2
before the funds become available to departments will make it more difficult for them to use
the funds before they lapse, and delay needed priority items and projects.
For this reason, the affected departments have been instructed by this office to provide to the
Council, in writing, full justification for the proposed appropriations and detailed information
about what the money will be used for. This information will be provided directly to you by
the departments before the April 5, 2006, Council meeting. In addition, department heads will
be in attendance at the meeting to discuss the proposed appropriations with you and address
any remaining questions and concerns.
We humbly request that Draft 3 of Bill 214 be amended to restore the departmental
appropriations shown above that were to be placed in the Council's Contingency Relief
account. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
C~~,~-
Dixie Kaetsu
Managing Director
cc: William Takaba, Director of Finance
Michael Ben, Director of Personnel
Lawrence Mahuna, Police Chief
Darryl Oliveira, Fire Chief
Bruce McClure, Director of Public Works