Council begins process of picking apart Harris budget

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Once again, there are calls to cut city money for the Brunch on the Beach events in Waikiki.

But there's a request for more deputy prosecutors.

And there's a call to cut beach torch-lighting ceremonies and use the money to help a sex-abuse treatment center.

Those are among dozens of changes, affecting millions of dollars, that City Council members say they want to make to Mayor Jeremy Harris' proposed city budget.

Some of the requests could lead to major layoffs and reductions to city services. But it's too soon to tell how viable the proposals are and how many will actually be considered during the coming weeks.

Council budget chairwoman Ann Kobayashi said she'll consider the wish lists while there are no guarantees they'll all make it into the spending plan coming up for a final vote in June.

"The first pass that comes out will contain many amendments, but it is only a first draft," she said. "I'm relying on the help of all the council members to craft a budget that benefits the people of our city."

This year, the stakes are high. Five council members are up for re-election, few want to raise taxes, and there's no money set aside to pay raises that thousands of city employees want.

Harris' budget calls for a 7 percent increase in the commercial property tax and for selling some major city properties, but there isn't much wiggle room unless more money is raised or spending is cut.

Harris said major cuts could reduce bus service, close swimming pools and leave the Honolulu Zoo without enough money to buy food for all the animals.

"Once again, we're getting some irresponsible proposals from some council members," Harris said. "We're extremely concerned about the proposed salary cuts that would result in layoffs."

Councilman Charles Djou, who long ago staked out a position of rejecting tax increases, called for the deepest cuts, which would save millions of dollars but hit most city departments hard.

It's unlikely that the rest of the council will go along with all of his proposed cuts, but some changes may be seriously considered.

In written comments justifying his proposals, Djou said the city simply doesn't have enough money to keep spending like before. But he asked that $275,000 more be spent to hire additional prosecutors and give merit raises to others.

Councilman Romy Cachola wants to cut $315,000 earmarked for Brunch on the Beach, nightly torch-lighting on Kuhio Beach and other activities. "These programs are nice to have but difficult to justify as public health and safety priority programs," he said.

To raise money for other services, Cachola said he wants to consider raising parking fees in some city lots, and changing how the city buys insurance.

Councilman Gary Okino also called for cutting Brunch on the Beach and a few other programs, but no drastic changes.

Councilwoman Barbara Marshall called for cutting $150,000 from torch-lighting to help pay for the sex-abuse treatment center.

"In these austere budget times, we have to make choices between 'nice to have' and 'need to have,' " she said.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.