HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0711.101 2008-2010Testimony to restore funding to the Hawai'i County Bands:
HOW WE ARE ACHIEVING THESE SAVINGS?
3/22/2010
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen of the Hawai'i County Council, my name is Paul'Arceo and I am
the 12 Bandmaster of the Hawai'i County Band a proud and honored tradition that has endured for 127
years. I am here today to support the restoration of funding to both the Hawai'i County Band as well as
the West Hawai'i Band. I would first like to start with some budgetary data.
In FY 2008 -2009, the HCB was allotted $380,000 of which only 225,000 was spent. The WHB was
allotted $82,000 and only $17,000 was spent. This resulted in a $220,000 savings to Hawai'i County.
In FY 2009 -2010, our total budget for both bands is $381,000. Assuming that the salary numbers follow
the previous year, we would still be approximately $140,000 under budget.
In both bands, the musician positions are strictly hourly meaning that if they work they get paid and if
they are absent they don't. Also, the musician positions do not qualify for medical, v acation or sick leave.
Each year the bands voluntarily takes 4 weeks of unpaid leave in 2 weeks in late December and 2 weeks
in July saving 1 entire month of salary for the County.
Depending on what is scheduled for the month not all of hours allotted being used. The average is 20 to
32 hour per month for the HCB and between 10 to 18 hours for the WHB.
Budget cuts in FY 2009 -2010:
Due to the budgetary crisis the County is under all departments were asked to share in the sacrifice and
reduce expenditures by 5 -10% in FY 2009 -2010 per the Mayors directive.
The County Bands operating budget was slashed by 66 %, while it's positions were defunded by 25 %.
The operating budget went from $12,000 total for both bands to a mere $4,000. This includes monies for
travel to various districts to perform, equipment, music, repair and telephone.
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Also, 19 musician positions were defunded which included 6 positions in East Hawai'i, and 9 positions in
West Hawai'i including their Assistant Band Director position. Furthermore, when positions become
vacant due to resignation or retirement, we are not allowed to fill these positions further depleting the
number of qualified musicians needed to provide our services to the public.
66% to the operating budget and 25% to personnel is astounding, given the 5 -10% that was requested, is
a lot for any division to endure and still operate efficiently.
Comm. No. 1 1 1 . 1 0
Ref. To: P/C uuati
Ref. Date MAR 2 2 2010
Hawai'i County has reputation of a place with a rich and vast cultural heritage and this is truly in jeopardy
if we allow the bands to become unfunded this will remain as a permanent black eye for our County.
With over 6000 people from around the world having signed our online petition the question remains why
would visitors come here if we are so quick to kill a historical and cultural icon.
Also realize the importance to music education in that all band directors in East Hawai'i are either
members, former members or previous directors of the band. The Hawai'i County Bands both in East and
West Hawai'i serves as models for students island wide, provides an outstanding resource for bands, and
is a living breathing gift to residents and visitors of this County. A tradition like our takes years to
develop and very difficult to recreate or replace. This is why the decision to unfunded both bands seems
so entirely short sighted and rash, in fact, no discussion of possible cuts, furloughs, or reduction in hours
were ever entertained. Even more outrageous is that this decision to cut the bands by Robert Fitzgerald
and Clayton Honma was done without even once hearing the band or attending one of our concerts. We
were told by that this is a done deal and nothing you do will change our minds. Basically the Parks and
Recreation Department heads cut the bands without any regard for the level and quality of service that we
provide. Many of the band members feel personally disrespected because of the sheer level of arrogance
displayed by this action.
In conclusion, you must make no mistake, that if you allow the bands to become unfunded you will be
aiding and abetting in the destruction of part of our historical and cultural heritage. The fmal thought I
want to leave you with is: Why was the County Band adopted by Hawai'i County and put into the County
charter in the first place? This was because the board of supervisors knew how valuable an asset this was,
how rare and special this was, and finally they knew it needed to be preserved and protected. One
hundred and five years after we became a county sponsored institution I challenge all of you the members
of County Council with the same task. Protect and preserve both the Hawai'i County Band and West
Hawai'i Band for future generations to come.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL G. ARCEO