HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWIRC 054 10/06/2009 2008-2010
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
DATE:
PLACE:
October 20, 2009
Council Chambers
Ben Franklin Bldg, 2nd Floor
333 Kilauea Ave.
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
Re: Comm No. 528/Reso 238-09
TIME:
2:00 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai'i County Council
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations, to which was referred
Communication 528 and Resolution 238-09, reports as follows:
Resolution 238-09, transmitted via Communication No. 528 from council member Pete
Hoffmann, dated September 14,2009, requests the Hawai'i State Legislature to amend the
Comprehensive Public Funding Program for the County of Hawai'i Council elections, address
the lack of objectives with which this program can be properly assessed, and raise the limit for
execution of the project from $300,000 to $500,000.
There were two submissions of written testimony. First was from Cory Harden via email, dated
October 5, 2009, in support of this resolution. Second from the Executive Director ofthe
Campaign Spending Commission Barbara U. Wong, dated October 13,2009, wherein she
advised increasing the $300,000 cap will bring a necessary increase in the administrative costs,
The "Empirical Objectives to Assess the Pilot" program was also reviewed therein, specifically:
"[T]o reduce the influence of private financing on campaigns" and "that the comprehensive
public financing of campaigns has promising potential and should be explored on a pilot basis."
Council member Hoffmann affirmed that the intent of introducing this resolution is to bring the
attention of State Legislators to problems within Act 244. Council member Yoshimoto
emphasized there are other problems besides the $300,000 limit, and he intends to bring
amendments before the next reading to address these issues, including the apparently unfair
structure of distribution of funds.
Council member Ikeda expressed concern there may be insufficient time for the State Legislature
to effectively respond to this Resolution. Other Council members disagreed and Mr. Hoffmann
specifically asserted there is still ample time for State Legislators to introduce a Bill.
Council member Ford urged the Council to move this resolution forward and amend later.
Committee Chair Enriques in final comments called the Councils' attention to Ms. Wong's
testimony where she states costs to the public for administering this program may be as much as
$100,000 for the $300,000 limit, and will be likely be higher if the limit is raised to $500,000.
PWIRC Rept. No. 54
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is not in accordance with the
purpose and intent of Resolution 238-09 and forwards it to Council with a negative
recommendation.
bdw
AYES NOES A&E EX
ENRIQUES X
FORD X
GREENWELL X
HOFFMANN X
IKEDA X
NAEOLE X
ONISHI X
YAGONG X
YOSHIMOTO X
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELA nONS