Posted on: Wednesday, March 2, 2005
Big Island mayor wants to beef up county staffing
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island Mayor Harry Kim is proposing a record $277 million county budget for the year beginning July 1, and is recommending staff increases for a number of county agencies.
Kim's annual submittal to the Big Island County Council proposes a spending increase of almost 13 percent over spending for this fiscal year.
In his budget message to the council, Kim said county property tax collections are expected to increase by almost 16 percent in the coming year despite three measures the council has approved to cut property taxes for Big Island homeowners.
As a result, property tax collections for owner-occupied homes are expected to drop, while rising property values will require owners of resorts, rentals, commercial property and almost all other types of property to pay more, according to the budget submittal.
For years county departments have been asked to provide more services for less money, and now is the time to beef up county staffing, Kim said in his report to the council.
His budget proposal would add 13 positions in the Department of Environmental Management; 10 positions in the Fire Department, including two new battalion chiefs; and a combined total of 18 more full-time positions for other county departments including police, county prosecutor, planning, parks, civil service and corporation counsel.
The budget would also create a new risk management division initially made up of two workers.
The proposed budget would bank $1 million to cover any future legal judgments against the county, and tuck away $1 million in reserves for potential natural disasters.
"Because of the improved economy and favorable future outlook, the county can now finally look at improving services and doing a better job of meeting its responsibilities to the public," Kim wrote.
The budget now goes to the council for consideration.
Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.
