Buoyed by an improved economy, Mayor Billy Kenoi on Tuesday released an amended budget that bumps spending up a notch and adds 30 new positions without raising property taxes.
The new proposed budget, at $438.8 million, is 5.25 percent higher than last year’s budget and about $4 million higher than a proposed budget released earlier this year.
“I am very thankful for the hard work of our departments and the Hawaii County Council in crafting an amended budget,” Kenoi said Tuesday. “We look forward to working with everyone to pass a balanced budget that meets our community’s needs.”
The new positions will be primarily centered on improving the permitting process, which has often gotten bogged down by long waits, backlogs and delays. An additional $962,000 was added to Public Works and $195,000 to the Fire Department to achieve these goals. Another $474,000 is allocated for fringe benefits for the new positions.
“Our goal is to provide predictable, professional and timely service from application submission through final inspection,” Kenoi said in his budget message. “We will be hiring additional staff in the departments of Public Works, Planning, Fire and Environmental Management to ensure that plans move through the review process more quickly and that the inspections are performed in a more timely manner.”
Positions to be added include four building inspectors, four electrical inspectors, three land use plans checkers, two fire prevention inspectors, two civil engineer IVs, a plumbing inspector and several engineers.
Also in the budget is an increased focus on public safety and $250,000 more to battle invasive species such as albizia trees and little fire ants.
Mass Transit will see improvements as well, with an additional $904,000 to complete an islandwide study and ensure adequate driver coverage across the island.
A countywide transit system with area hubs and more community coverage was a priority of the County Council when it went over the various departments’ program budgets last month. One area of improvement in particular is a countywide mass transit master plan, to join the various transit plans created by community development districts.
“It’s a blueprint,” said Puna Councilman Danny Paleka, who, as chairman of the council’s Public Safety and Mass Transit Committee, will be helping implement the study.
Hawaii County property values are up an average 4.75 percent over last year.
Previous estimates had put values up about 3 percent. The certified property values statement released Thursday shows a net taxable real property value of $26.4 billion, up $1.2 billion from last year.
An $81.7 million capital improvements budget focuses on repairing and expanding wastewater systems, improving park facilities and maintaining and repairing roads. There’s also money for a South Kona police station, improving holding cells, improving garbage transfer stations and beginning the process of closing the Hilo landfill.
The council has until June 30, the last day of the fiscal year, to amend and pass a budget or the mayor’s budget automatically goes into effect July 1.
The budget also responds to federal mandates on disabled transportation services and state mandates on GASB-45 post-employment medical benefits. GASB-45 payments will increase by $1.2 million to $7.3 million.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
