Council looks at equipment purchases

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

City Council Chairman John DeSoto, worried about using long-term money to buy short-term goods, wants a policy restricting the types of equipment the city can purchase with its construction budget.

Some council members are concerned that buying laptop computers, cars and video projectors with money from construction bonds means the items may be outdated or discarded before the bonds are paid off.

DeSoto said such purchases would be like "using a credit card to buy groceries."

Projects and equipment purchased through the construction budget are paid for by government bonds, which are typically repaid over 20- or 30-year periods.

The Council Budget Committee yesterday continued its review of Mayor Jeremy Harris' proposed $475 million construction budget along with his $1.1 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2002-03.

DeSoto and Council Chairman Ann Kobayashi noted that some of the $20 million worth of equipment sought appears to run the risk of being outdated or worn out fairly quickly.

DeSoto wondered if one solution would be to limit the purchases from the construction bonds to those more than $5,000. He said buying less-expensive items over the long haul costs too much. "It costs double the price," he said.

Councilman Duke Bainum asked Corporation Counsel David Arakawa about his department's request to buy a $1,500 video camera. Bainum said such items in his own experience become "antiquated within a few years."

Arakawa said he feels comfortable with the purchase as a replacement for a video camera that has worked for years.