Budget cuts worry police, fire chief
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer
Honolulu's fire chief warned yesterday that the latest budget proposal from the City Council could force him to shut down a ladder company of 15 people, while a deputy police chief said the cuts endanger public safety.
Council Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi assured police and fire officials that she has tried to spare all public safety functions, and that cuts may be avoided if the council can find lower-priority programs to cut.
On Thursday, the council's Budget Committee approved a new version of the city budget that cuts $19.2 million from the operating budget and an estimated $175 million from the construction budget.
Reductions to the operating budget amount to cuts of 5 percent from most departments, and 1 percent from police, fire, civil defense and other public health and safety functions.
Fire Chief Attilio Leonardi said he was frustrated that he hasn't been able to formally respond to the proposals.
Leonardi told Kobayashi, "You're not giving us a chance." She assured him that the council plans to restore police and fire money once it receives detailed information from the Harris administration that would help the council find lower-priority areas to trim from.
Deputy Police Chief Robert Au told the Budget Committee that the current cuts would affect the department's ability to adequately protect the community.
"We're going to need some changes," Au said. "We're concerned for your safety."
Kobayashi said her ultimate goal would be to trim $60 million from the budget so it would not be necessary to take $60 million from the city sewer fund, as proposed by the Harris administration.
She told city officials that she would welcome their assistance in cutting $60 million. Leonardi shook his head. "I'm the fire chief," he said. "I don't have $60 million to give you."
City Managing Director Ben Lee said the cuts would be "devastating" to the city and its services. "It's terrible. It's irresponsible to do that."
Kobayashi fired back: "We're worried about what might happen to taxpayers in the future."
