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Yoshimoto, J
From: geomike5@att.net 6 !c(QQ~
Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 2:36 PM 2009 RPR PPI 9 14
To: dyagong@co.hawaii.rr.us
Cc: bford@co.hawaii.hi.us; kgreenwell@co.hawaii.hi.us;jyoshimoto@WCwN;~l
phoffmann@co.hawaii. hi. us
Subject: Bill 49 a bad bill
Aloha Councilman Yagong,
1 somehow sense the attempt to use the land fund to help balance the county budget has more to do with
the unpopularity of the fund in the minds of some Council and Administration members than it does an
opportunity to balance a budget.
There have been numerous other ways submitted to make up the budget shortfall. The first and obvious
is "spend less." The second major option is to eliminate the 400+ funded but unfilled positions. The
third is untapped stimulus money that can be used to relieve the County of some financial commitments.
Garnishing the land funds means it will probably go to a legal challenge. It is an issue greater than just
this one time grab but it becomes a Constitutional and Charter argument. A court challenge will tie the
issue into the courts for years, longer than the Mayor wants to access the funds. The course of events
will be that an injunction will be enforced to prevent use of the funds so it is a waste of time to even try
to use raid the fund.
However, if Committee or Council members are determined to do so, then why not "borrow" from the
funds. If you honestly believe you will only need them for two years and there is not some secret
agenda to do away with the fund entirely, then amend Bill 49 should state that the funds are being lent to
the general fund and will be paid back in two years with 6 percent aannual interest. If that can't be said,
then find some other means to balance the budget.
Mike Reimer
Kailua-Kona
GeoMike5@att.net
Comm. 140. A I d - S
Ref. TOfteawnt..:d F4.
Ref. Date APR 0 72009
4/6/2009