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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0143.000 2014-2016William P. Kenoi Mayor Walter K.M. Lau Managing Director Randall M. Kurohara Deputy Managing Director County of Hawaii Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 - Hilo, Hawaii 96720 - (8o8) 961-8211 - Fax (8o8) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5o44 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808)323-4444 - Fax(8o8)323-4440 r J ;J February 27, 2015 The Honorable Dru Mamo Kanuha, Council Chair and Members of the Hawai'i County Council v County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Council Members: As required by the Hawaii County Charter, submitted with this message is the proposed operating budget for the County of Hawaii for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016. This balanced budget includes estimated revenues and appropriations of $434,667,890 and includes the operations of eleven of the county's special funds as well as the general fund. This fiscal year (FY) 2015-2016 proposed balanced budget is $17,752,059 or 4.3 percent larger than last year's budget. Our administration has always worked hard to provide public safety, core county services, and much needed investments in infrastructure while working through the realities of the economic climate created by the great recession. This budget reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest level of government services by wisely using county resources to meet the community's needs. This budget will not raise property tax rates. Comm. No. 3 _ County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. W. TO: _ Ref. Date Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Council February 27, 2015 Page 2 The following table describes the budgeted expenditures for FY 2014-15 and the proposed budget for FY 2015-16 for each fund: OPERATING BUDGET BY FUND (Amounts in thousands) The following table presents a summary of projected FY 2015-16 revenues from various sources and the changes from the current budget: Source REVENUES BY SOURCE. (Amounts in thousands) Percent FY15-16 of Amount Total Increase (Decrease) From Percent FY14-15 Increase Amount (Decrease) Real Property Tax FY14-15 FY15-16 Increase Percent FUND Budget Proposed (Decrease) Change General Fund $318,571 $330,489 $11,918 3.7% Highway Fund 35,594 36,698 1,104 3.1% Sewer Fund 10,743 12,232 1,489 13.9% Cemetery Fund 10 10 0 0.0% Bikeway Fund 171 213 42 24.6% Beautification Fund 452 489 37 8.2% Vehicle Disposal Fund 3,655 4,478 823 22.5% Solid Waste Fund 26,768 28,111 1,343 5.0% Golf Course Fund 1,233 1,336 103 8.4% Geothermal Royalty Fund 1,700 1,700 0 0.0% Housing Fund 17,969 18,862 893 5.0% Geothermal Asset Fund 50 50 0 0.0% $416,916 $434,668 $17,752 4.3% The following table presents a summary of projected FY 2015-16 revenues from various sources and the changes from the current budget: Source REVENUES BY SOURCE. (Amounts in thousands) Percent FY15-16 of Amount Total Increase (Decrease) From Percent FY14-15 Increase Amount (Decrease) Real Property Tax $241,500 55.6% $7,400 3.2% Public Service Company Tax 10,340 2.4% 0 0.0% Fuel Tax 7,390 1.7% 60 0.8% Public Utilities Franchise Tax 11,579 2.7% 532 4.8% Licenses and Permits 22,179 5.1% 243 1.1% Revenue from Use of Money & Property 1,473 0.3% 352 31.4% Intergovernmental Revenue 65,078 14.9% 3,142 5.1% Charges for Services 23,963 5.5% 1,156 5.1% Other Revenues 9,769 2.3% 1,277 15.0% Fund Balance Carryover 41,397 9.5% 3,590 9.5% $434,668 100.0% $17,752 4.3% Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Council February 27, 2015 Page 3 REVENUE CHANGES The major changes in projected revenues are as follows: Real Property Tax. Real property tax revenues, including penalties and interest, are expected to increase by 3.2%, or $7.4 million, due to new construction and an increase in taxable values. Public Utilities Franchise Tax. Increased public utility revenues are expected to result in an increase of $532,000, an increase of 4.8% in franchise tax revenue. Intergovernmental Revenue. Increased grant revenues of $3.1 million reflect those grants we are aware of at this time. Charges for Services. Charges for services are expected to increase $1.2 million and reflect the increase in usage of various County services. Other Revenues. Increased other revenues of $1.3 million includes increases in real property tax sales and program income. Fund Balance Carryover. This budget reflects $3.6 million more in carryover savings from the current year operations for all funds. The following table presents a summary of projected FY 2015-16 expenditures from various sources and the changes from the current budget: Function General Government Public Safety Highways & Streets Health, Education & Welfare Culture & Recreation Sanitation & Waste Removal Debt Service Pension & Retirement Health Fund Miscellaneous EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION (Amounts in thousands) Percent FY15-16 Of Amount Total Increase (Decrease) From Percent FY14-15 Increase Amount (Decrease) $49,915 11.5% $93 0.2% 132,327 30.4% 10,999 9.1% 26,711 6.1% 1,160 4.5% 26,592 6.1% 1,008 3.9% 21,675 5.0% 616 2.9% 41,219 9.5% 3,660 9.7% 36,736 8.5% (1,894) -4.9% 43,430 10.0% 4,052 10.3% 38,932 9.0% 1,767 4.8% 17,131 3.9% (3,709) -17.8% $434,668 100.0% $17,752 4.3% Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Council February 27, 2015 Page 4 Increases in salary and wages are reflected in all functional areas of county government. After several years of furloughs or no wage increases, new wages were negotiated for all bargaining units represented in the county. All salary and wages are reported in each department with the exception of the few bargaining units with contracts that end on June 30, 2015. The new contracts will need to be approved by the legislature and each County and are estimated in the provision for compensation adjustment account. Major changes in projected expenditures are as follows: General Government • Public Works. Appropriations decreased by approximately $685,000, primarily due to expected savings in fuel. • These savings were offset by the increases to salary and wages explained above. Public Safety • Police. Police received $1.8 million in additional grant funding. • The majority of other changes in public safety are attributable to salary and wage increases explained above. Highways & Streets • Mass Transit Agency. Increased appropriations of approximately $1.0 million are primarily attributable to an increase in the paratransit program as mandated by the Federal Transit Administration. Health, Education & Welfare • Aging. Increased appropriations of $248,000 are due to additional grant funding for the Area Plan on Aging. • Housing. Increase appropriations of $900,000 are primarily due to additional grant funding of $615,000 for housing subsidies. Sanitation & Waste Removal • Wastewater Fund. An increased appropriation of approximately $1.2 million is related to additional expenditures required for the Hilo Outfall as well as other aging plant and equipment. • Vehicle Disposal Fund. An increased appropriation of approximately $800,000 will provide additional funding for environmental cleanup. • Solid Waste Fund. The appropriations for organic waste and equipment repairs and maintenance increased by about $800,000 because of increased costs. Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Council February 27, 2015 Page 5 Debt Service • Transfer to Debt Service. As the result of previously refinancing old bond issues, there is a reduction in debt service cost of $1.9 million for the upcoming year. Pension & Retirement • Retirement Benefits. Contributions to the employee retirement system will increase by approximately $4.1 million as the result of new salary and wage costs and rate increases established by the state legislature. Health Fund • Health Benefits. Contributions to the state employee health system will increase by $1.8 million, which includes an increase of $1.2 million for future post -employment health benefits. Miscellaneous • Provision for Compensation Adjustment. This provision contains the estimated cost of salary and wages pursuant to contract negotiations that have not been fully approved, and decreased by about $3.8 million. The $2.0 million appropriation is related to pending negotiations for Bargaining Units 2, 3 and 4. Conclusion This proposed budget represents our departments' best efforts to meet the needs of our growing community in a timely and fiscally responsible fashion. Our administration is committed to investing in our future, maintaining core services and meeting our obligations to our employees. Our economy is in a state of gradual recovery. We believe our investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, and parks and recreation are critical to the future of Hawai'i Island. We look forward to working closely with the County Council to put forth a balanced budget that ensures public safety and meets the needs of our community. Aloha, William P. Kenoi MAYOR Attachment