NAWILIWILI — Four different Kaua‘i County Council committees last week approved five bills to dole out nearly $5 million from the county’s general fund surplus to various agencies. The appropriations would be used to expand Kaua‘i Bus services, to fund
NAWILIWILI — Four different Kaua‘i County Council committees last week approved five bills to dole out nearly $5 million from the county’s general fund surplus to various agencies.
The appropriations would be used to expand Kaua‘i Bus services, to fund programs at the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, to upgrade and unify the county’s radio system, to end furloughs and salary waivers, and to fund an independent auditing contract.
On Wednesday, the council will review the bills for final approval. The committees voted unanimously on their respective bills, making it likely they will pass full council this week.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. would still have to sign each bill to become law. The bills were introduced by request of the administration, and will likely be approved by Carvalho.
The appropriations should increase because the Committee of the Whole deferred a bill that would appropriate $2.76 million to help subsidize the golf and sewer funds. The administration is expected to revise the request before the committee reviews the bill.
Housing/Transportation/Energy Conservation and Efficiency Committee
The committee approved $575,000 to expand Kaua‘i Bus services to include later hours and a Sunday route.
Councilman Tim Bynum said in December that the funding would allow the bus to run until 10 p.m., including Sundays.
Economic Development and Renewable Energy Strategies Committee
The Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau asked — and obtained — approval for $200,000 to be used in various programs promoting tourism.
KVB would use $15,000 to promote Kanani, the American Girl doll; $70,000 to a kama‘aina campaign; $10,000 to film promotions; $10,000 to a movie sweepstakes; $25,000 to Canada “blitz”; $25,000 to a Japan delegation; $33,000 to promote the Kaua‘i Made program; and $12,000 to administrative fees.
Public Safety and Environmental Services Committee
The committee approved $1.57 million funding to upgrade the county’s communication system, using a standard P25 800 MHz system that would allow for better communication between all county agencies.
“The goal is to enable public-safety responders to communicate with each other,” said Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura, adding that our current system is “fairly good,” but is growing outdated and needs to be updated.
Councilman Derek Kawakami said that inter-operability of systems has been a major topic since 2001 at the National Association of Counties.
“Interoperability was really revived after Sept. 11 (2001),” Kawakami said. “At a public safety level, if you miscommunicate, that’s when lives are lost.”
Committee of the Whole
A $2.32 million appropriation would allow the end of furloughs and 5 percent salary waivers.
The bill will likely have an amendment related to a request from the Office of Prosecuting Attorney to add funding for 12 months of waivers and furloughs. Other county departments will receive six months of restitution.
County Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho said the OPA has nearly doubled its backlog to 704 cases from 366, because of the furloughs. The funds would be used to process those cases.
The bill as written would warrant OPA a little over $100,000, or half of 9.38 percent of its annual funding of $2.31 million. OPA requested a full restitution of its annual funding, which totals $203,930.
The committee approved a bill to allow the County Auditor’s Office to procure the services of an independent contract auditor, and approve a contract. A separate bill, appropriating $325,000, would be used for the winning bid for the county audit contract for next fiscal year, which starts July 1.
The county normally hires independent auditors on three-year contract basis. The new bill would allow the contract to be extended to four years, which would likely save the county some money, according to County Auditor Ernie Pasion.
The committee deferred a bill that would appropriate $62,719 to be used in the Wailua Golf Course fund, plus $2.7 million to be used for the county’s sewer fund.
Chair Jay Furfaro said he has had some discussion with the administration, regarding the bill appropriating funds for this last bill, “especially in the golf area.” The administratioan, as a result of questions sent from Furfaro, will submit a new bill, he said.
The committee deferred the bill until the administration sends the new bill.
More appropriations
The administration sent a few more requests to the council for appropriations from the general fund. The requests are part of the council’s agenda for next meeting, to be held Wednesday at the Nawiliwili council chambers.
Finance Director Wally Rezentes is requesting $525,448 to be used in repair work at Wailua Golf Course.
Rezentes is also asking for $417,238 to be used in equipment upgrades at Kekaha Landfill.
A $300,000 funding request would be used by the Office of the County Clerk, Council Services Division, to fund costs associated with furniture and equipment at the Historic County Building, plus other operational costs associated with the building’s renovation.
Go to www.kauai.gov for more information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
