HomeMy WebLinkAboutFY 2023 (Office of the Mayor)OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
FY 2023 BUDGET AND OPERATIONS SYNOPSIS
Derek S.K. Kawakami
Mayor
Department: MAYOR'S OFFICE
Fund: GENERAL FUND
1. FY 2021 to FY 2022 BUDGET COMPARSION
FY 2022
FY 2023
$ + / -
% + / -
Salary and Wages
1,515,796
1,551,808
36,012
2.4%
Benefits
929,500
1,006,485
76,985
8.3%
Utilities
1,001
3,001
2,000
199.8%
Vehicle/Equip, Lease
1
1
0
0.0%
Operations
612,020
652,104
40,084
6.5%
3,058,318
3,213,399
155,081
5.1%
FY 2022 Operating Budget
■ Salary and
Wages
0% 0% ■ Benefits
0% 50% I
■ Utilities
30%
■ Vehicle/Equip,
Lease
1,800,000
1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
FY 2023 Operating Budget
■ Salary and
Wages
0% 20/ ■ Benefits
0%J 48%
Utilities
32%
■ Vehicle/Equip,
Lease
FY 2022 and FY 2023 Comparison
Salary and
Wages
Benefits Utilities Vehicle/Equip, Operations
Lease
O FY 2022
0 FY 2023
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The Office of the Mayor encompasses two functions: the Mayor's support functions, and the
Office of Boards and Commissions. Both offices are wholly supported out of the General Fund.
The proposed operating budget comparison to the prior year's budget is charted above. Close to
80% of the proposed appropriations would cover Salaries, Overtime and Fringe Benefits, with
the remaining 20% for all other expenditures. Overall, there is a 5.1% increase in the Office of
the Mayor's budget over last fiscal year.
2. MAJOR CHANGES AND/OR VARIANCES IN OPERATIONS BUDGET
The most noticeable change in our budget includes an increase in Advertising by Boards and
Commissions to develop an innovative digital public information campaign for the 2023 charter
amendments.
In 2020, the Office of Boards and Commission arguably was the first in the State to conduct a
digital public education campaign on charter amendments. All six charter amendments were
adopted. The only time all ballot measures were passed were in 2014, 2004, and 1986. However,
in 2014 only three ballot measures were proposed, in 2004 one was proposed, and in 1986 one
was proposed. Additionally, the 2020 ballot measures were supported by more voters in any
previous election year since 2000. Lastly, blank votes for 2020 ballot measures were reduced by
nearly 1/3 when compared with the election years between 2012-2018.
A second notable change was an increase in the contract price with our D.C. consultants who
offer guidance and communication with our federal delegation. Their work is critical in delivering
information regarding federal legislation and funding opportunities. Most recently they
stewarded our successful congressionally directed spending requests to Senator Schatz and
Senator Hirono's office resulting in $8,495,000 funding to construct a community center and help
build elderly housing for the Lima Ola Community, and $905,000 to support the building of six -
eight Level 3 electric vehicle charging stations at strategic points on Kauai.
3. OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES FROM FY2022
Guiding our county and community through the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to be at the
forefront of our operational challenges. We have worked from the onset to have an aggressive
and defensive plan in protecting the life safety of our island, keep our economy rolling, and now
learning to coexist with the virus. Our office staff has continued to answer phone calls from
residents and visitors regarding travel to and from Kauai and other pandemic related concerns.
Our Boards and Commissions staff has been tasked with additional duties: administration and
staffing of Contested Cases, administratively supporting the Liquor Control Department and
Commission, the new State mandated Special Needs Advisory Committee for Elections and the
additional tasks related to conducting virtual meetings under the Sunshine Law and Act 220. We
appreciate the hard work and dedication in fulfilling these assignments.
4. OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM FY 2022
• Information is an integral part of building trust and dialogue between government and the
people it serves. Our public information team is committed to providing timely and accurate
information, and often do so by working long and odd hours. Whether through video messaging
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or press releases, our team works with our county departments and agencies, as well as non-
governmental organizations to ensure our public has the information they need. Public
meetings, road resurfacing and subsequent road closures, COVID-19 updates, landslide
information, awards and recognitions are in the realm of the service our team provides.
• Rebuilding our antiquated infrastructure and addressing decades of deferred maintenance is one
our top priorities. Our Operations Team continues to provide management support with our
many Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) which are centralized out of our Public Works
administration office.
• Our Office of Boards and Commissions supports and provides oversight for our numerous boards
and commissions and advisory committees. They continue to excel in assisting the over 100
volunteer board members who oversee and make critical decisions regarding County functions
and groups especially as they transitioned to conducting State mandated virtual meetings.
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