HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 212 02/17/1998 1996-1998 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: Februazy 17, 1998 Re: Comm. No. 636Bi11 No. 180
PLACE: Councilroom
TIME: 11:40 A.M.
Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 180, reports as follows:
Bill No. 180, transmitted by Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro, via Communication No. 636, dated
December ] 0, 1997, authorizes the issuance of $40 million general obligation bonds for the purpose of
financing various public improvements of the County of Hawaii; fixing the form, denominations, and
certain other details of such bonds and providing for their sale; and authorizing the issuance and sale
of a like principal amount of general obligation bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance
and sale of such bonds and appropriating funds for the costs of the issuance of such bonds.
Originally heard on January 6, 1998, this measure was deferred pending further information and
reseazch from the Legislative Auditor's Office on general obligation bonds and the collateral issues
associated with the proposed $40 million issuance.
Currently, approximately $170,000 in bond proceeds remain from the 1996 general obligation bond
issuance. These funds, however, have already been appropriated for projects approved in the capital
improvements fund. Therefore, this measure proposes to acquire funding for mandated projects and
needed infrastructure improvements that lack any funding source. The proposed public improvement
projects include, but aze not limited to, the following:
• East Hawaii Landfill Closure, Hilo Transfer Station, Materials Recovery Facility & Long Haul
Transfer Station - $12 million.
• Police 800 Megahertz Conversion - $8 million.
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance - $500,000.
• Various Road Improvement Projects - $2.29 million.
• Safety Improvement to County of Hawaii Facilities - $16 million.
Should this measure pass, the County anticipates to sell investment bonds at approximately 5.25
percent interest. Therefore, total repayment for the 20-year loan is estimated at $67 million, with an
annual payment of $3.5 million beginning in the third year of the loan.
Due to the uncertainty of funding from the State Legislature, the County's current indebtedness, and
the County's ability to pay, members of Your Committee struggled with approving this measure in its
current form. Reservations were also expressed regazding funding the closure of the East Hawaii
Landfill at an anticipated cost of $12 million. Although mandated, members were apprehensive about
funding this project at the current juncture.
FC REPORT NO. 212
Pursuant to Chapter 3, Section 5-3.3(c) of the Hawaii County Charter, the Director of Finance shall
negotiate loans and the issuance and sale of bonds and notes when authorized by the Council.
A second draft was submitted to correct a typographical error on page 1, Section 1, Ordinance No. 97-
72 should read Ordinance No. 97-82.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 180, Draft 2, and
recommends it pass first reading.
Ikc
Ayea Nun A&E EX
CHIJNG X Respectfully submitted
LEITHEAD-TODD x CONINIITTEE O INANCE
RAY X
5ANTANGELO X
SMITH X
TYLER x _ AARON S.Y. HUNG, CHAIR
YAGONG X FC REPORT NO. 212
ARAxAIa,~o.nr. X ADOPTED: