Comm No 0024.062 - Correspondence - Finance Director - CA-9 - staff for PONC fund and Maintenance fund

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Harry Kim Mayor County of Hawaii Finance Department 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2103 • Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 (808) 961-8234 • Fax (808) 961-8569 Date: January 25, 2019 To: Douglass Shipman Adams, Chair and Members of the Hawaii County Charter Commission From: Deanna Sak ,Director Aloha Chair Adams and Fellow Commissioners, Deanna S. Sako Director Let me start by apologizing for not being able to review the proposed charter amendment CA -9 in a timelier manner. I have the following comments to offer on proposed amendment CA -9, as currently drafted. 1. 2. 3. The proposed amendment to Section 10-15 (c) of the County of Hawaii Charter, which adds new item (3), is so detailed that it could actually prevent the desired intent; hiring a staff person to help facilitate acquisitions and management of lands for public access, open space, natural resource preservation. For example, if Human Resources determined the class specifications for duties similar to those described in CA -9 already exists and/or that the position is not a "senior staff' position as stated on the amendment, then advancing the intent of this proposed amendment could be difficult. While I am not necessarily opposed to a new position, I do feel strongly that the level of specificity is really overstepping what should be included in the narrative of the Charter. It is also conceivable that the duties described in this section may not warrant a full-time position given that this proposed staff person would be restricted to working solely on those duties described in CA -9. Creating a position tied to a fund is also not a precedent that this Administration would endorse. If passed, it could mean future proposals for new positions from other funds (solid waste, sewer, general excise tax, etc.) which could, in turn, undermine each department's effectiveness in staffing as efficiently as possible. Given that employee wages and benefits are approximately 68% of the current budget, and growing, we need to assure we can continue leveraging staff where possible. If the intent of CA -9 is to allow the PONC Funds to be used to hire additional staff to assist with the implementation of the Sections 10-15 and 10-16 of the County of Hawai`i Charter, then 10-15(c)(3) could simply be reworded "Pay for the salary, wages, and benefits of staff dedicated to advancing the activities contained within Sections 10-15 and 10-16." Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider Comm. No. 24.62