HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0279.008 2012-2014 PI CaNC2._
PUBLIC H
COUNTY CLEF{r R
COUNTY OF HAWAII
May 2013
2013 HAY 13 PM 2: 43
Hawaii County Government
My name is John Ota, born and raised on this Island. The County requested input
from the Taxpayers on the proposed a 10% raise in Taxes to meet County
requirements. A number of the Departments stated insufficient Funding hinders the
Departments to meet their obligations. It seems strange that these Departments
would make this statement after the Budget was approved.
My recommendation is that all County WASTE must be eliminated prior to a Tax
hike. If an increase in Tax is approved before WASTE is eliminated, the unwanted
WASTE will never be addressed. The County will be in good shape without
WASTE reduction. This seems to be the trend of running Government. The
primary focus is to increase revenues only. This makes me wonder, if all aspect of
running County Government was investigated. One option is to eliminate WASTE
before increasing Taxes. I would recommend that the County review both aspects
completely before creating an opinion on how to meet County needs. A closer
scrutiny to eliminate unnecessary expenditures to run County Government are
provided.
1. Open Space Funding & Funding for Maintenance.
a. What is the Dollar amount for these two Funding requirements? This Dollar
amount is not available for other County expenditures. How many millions
of Taxpayers money is tucked away for this purpose?
b. What are the additional manpower requirements for Parks & Rec to support
above requirements?
c. Other than Parks and Recreation, what other Departments require additional
manpower to support these requirements?
d. Life Guards, funded under the Fire Department, is not included in the above
requirements.
e. Lawyers are required to review and purchase the land.
f. What is the cost to hire a new Employee?
g. What is the cost of all County Benefits for the new employee?
2. The Open Space & Maintenance Funding Regulation continue to increase the
size of County Government with no end in view.
a. Why is it necessary for the County to continually acquire additional land
for more Parks?
b. How many people utilize each individual Park, per month or per year?
c. Is the Park Cost effective or not? �9 g
d. Justify the cost to operate all of the Parks. Comm.No,
Ref.To: lam/Cd Not,
Ref. Date MAY 14 2013
e. What is the cost to hire a new Employee?
f. What is the cost of all County Benefits for the new employee?
g. Could some of the under utilized Parks be eliminated from P&R custody
and maintenance?
3. The Salary Commission recently approved a $22,000 income raise for the
Mayor and some Department heads.
a. The existence of this Commission provides a method of unregulated
Budget increase for County Government.
b. Why must this Commission be in existence since the Government does not
have any control over this Commission?
c. When a Budget is approved, can the Budget meet all needs?
d. The Salary Commission could have been a one-time usage type of
Commission. Instead the Law allows it to be in continual existence.
Why?
4. Environmental Management Department.
a. Why is this Department having difficulties in collecting Rubbish Fees
from independent contracted Rubbish collectors?
b. Why is this problem not solved?
c. How much money remains to be collected?
5. Planning Department.
a. Why does this Department have a continual cost over-run program
allowing contractors to increase the cost of completing their original
contracted project?
b. Why must this Cost-Over-run continue?
c. If contractors are not accountable responsible for their Bids and unable
to complete the project on time, this is not the responsibility of the
County and this contractor should be eliminated from future Bids.
6. All WASTE of Taxpayers Dollars should be eliminated by the County before
considering a Tax Hike.
Sincerely,
John Ota
1 Nanea St.
Hilo, HI 96720
cc: Mayor
All Council Members