HILO, Hawaii -- Despite budget cuts, county employees racked up $77,453 in conferences and out-of-state travel since July 1, although all but $19,594 of it was offset by grants.

That's according to information Mayor Billy Kenoi's administration provided to West Hawaii Today on Friday.

In all, employees took 34 trips during the first three months of the fiscal year, with 22 of them taken by Public Safety employees such as police and prosecuting attorneys. Seven of the police trips were to conferences in Las Vegas, while an attorney with Corporation Counsel went to Vegas for a seminar on "Bargaining in Hard Times."

Trips are actually down significantly from the 88 trips county employees took during the same period in 1988.

The trips were reported on the heels of a directive from Kenoi earlier this month forecasting an even bleaker economic picture than first thought. He said next year there will be "unprecedented cuts in every department," and he urged employees to start cutting expenses now.

Cost-saving measures being contemplated include cutting travel and conference costs, eliminating some vacant positions and cutting costs of supplies and contracts. In addition, he plans to reduce overtime and prohibit replacement of county vehicles.

Kenoi predicts a $44.8 million budget deficit next year, based on $33.8 million less in projected revenues and $11 million more in projected expenses. That shortfall could rise to $64 million if the state -- as it indicates it may do -- holds onto the county's $17.9 million share of the Transit Accommodations Tax on hotel rooms to balance its own budget.

County Finance Director Nancy Crawford said travel is down dramatically since the county instituted an expense review committee composed of representatives of the department in question, Finance and Human Resources. Travel must be approved in advance, she said.

"Every one gets evaluated on its own merits." Crawford said. "If we felt it was truly something that benefited the county, then it was allowed."

Public Safety was allowed more conferences because the department often had other funding, and the administration sees continued education and training to keep police officers up-to-date as especially critical.

Lt. Richard Sherlock, who oversees Area I Vice, said the four personnel sent to the Clandestine Laboratory Investigators Association 2009 Conference Aug. 24-29 in Las Vegas were funded through a U.S. Justice Department Hawaii Community Foundation grant. The grant was originally used to set up a methamphetamine task force four or five years ago, and the money has continued for continuing training, Sherlock said.

The money can't be used for anything else, he said. The five-day conference for the four cost $9,490.

"Most grants can be kind of vague but this one is what it's for," Sherlock said. "We specifically had money for narcotics officers to keep them certified and up-to-date."

The Emergency 911 Board, an entity funded by a 66-cents-per-month fee paid on all cell phones, paid for three police staffers to attend the Aug. 16-21 Association of Public Safety Communications Officials Conference in Las Vegas. That conference came to $8,190.

The e911 fee was originally set up to install equipment to be able to pinpoint cell phone callers on a map when they call in with emergencies.

Crawford said the county will likely allow even less travel until the economy turns around.

"It could be really important but this year we're saying that no matter how important it is, you just can't go," Crawford said. "It's the choice you make when you only have uncomfortable choices."