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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFY 2027 (Office of the Prosecuting Attorney) OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY County of Kaua‘i, State of Hawai‘i 3990 Ka‘ana Street, Suite 210, Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 96766 808-241-1888 ~ FAX 808-241-1758 Victim/Witness Program 808-241-1898 or 800-668-5734 An Equal Opportunity Employer Rebecca V. Like Prosecuting Attorney Keola Siu First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney FY 2027 BUDGET AND OPERATIONS SYNOPSIS 1. FY 2026 to FY 2027 BUDGET COMPARISON 2 2. MAJOR CHANGES AND/OR VARIANCES IN OPERATIONS BUDGET Salaries & Benefits: Outside of increases aligning with the salary commission resolution, we have also requested general funds to cover the Meth & Opioid Focused Deputy Prosecutor (Position 9091) and the Process Server (Position 9102) as grant funds will no longer be available beginning FY27. Operations: The grants to support family violence shelters and sexual assault treatment programs were previously split between OPA (in Other Services account) and the Office of Economic Development. Those amounts are now appropriately included in our Grant-in-Aid account. The overall increase in Operations is primarily attributable to the amount transferred from OED. 3. OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES Our vacant deputy positions are an ongoing challenge. We have hired a number of new deputies in the last year. Most of whom have been a great fit. Further, we were optimistic about the potential of the Government Attorney reciprocity program that went into effect in August of 2025, allowing out of state attorneys in good standing to practice in government criminal law roles. We made several offers under this program in late 2025, but none of those individuals were able to join us because of lengthy delays in processing their bar applications. In February of 2026, a new rule was implemented to allow provisional licensing more quickly to avoid the lengthy delay. We are cautiously optimistic that this will open the door to qualified applicants. Another challenge in hiring and retention is competition with the other Counties in Hawai`i. The maximum salary for deputies on Kaua`i is $75,000 less than the maximum salary for Maui DPAs and close to $50,000 less than Hawai`i Island and City and County DPA maximum salaries. We continue to prioritize public safety above all else. Adapting and reallocating resources to our most pressing priority can be challenging, but having a skilled, balanced and experienced team gives us the capability to pivot. Building and maintaining relationships with State agencies presents a large operational challenge. Our team is in daily contact with the Sheriffs, the Kaua`i Police Department, the Judiciary, and the State Public Defender’s Office. We do our best to navigate challenges beyond our control, but we are continually faced with issues, especially State Departments, that create obstacles to our Office accomplishing our goals. Recently, DLE has started increased enforcement efforts on Kaua`i. This has led to some lack of clarity regarding policy, prosecution, training and communication. Our highest volume court at the Judiciary has limited clerical staff which has shifted much of the documentation and calendaring burden to our clerical staff. Our priority in the FY 27 budget is to fill all vacant positions, as well as fully maintaining and preserving our current staff. We are not requesting funding for any new programs or positions, and our primary focus is to maintain the services we provide to the community. 4. OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM FY 2026 Our Office has struggled with having adequate office space since taking over the Life’s Choices program. Housing our Life’s Choices staff with a member of our clerical team at Hale Kokua has allowed us to make better use of our office space. 3 Our Office’s commitment to providing re-entry services, to diverting low-level offenders to holistic healthcare, and an increased focus on prevention and youth has led to the jail population remaining well below design and operational capacity. Because of this, KCCC has been able to host more events and programs to better prepare inmates to successfully reenter the community. In 2025, our Office hosted a comprehensive four-day SAPST (Substance Abuse Professional Skills Training) program designed to strengthen participants’ knowledge and skills in substance abuse prevention and enforcement. The training provided in-depth instruction on current drug trends, investigative strategies, report writing, courtroom testimony, and collaborative approaches to addressing substance-related offenses. The training brought together professionals and partner agencies, fostering collaboration and reinforcing consistent, evidence-based practices. Through a combination of classroom instruction and practical application, participants enhanced their ability to effectively respond to substance -related issues within the community. This initiative reflects our continued commitment to public safety, professional development, and proactive community engagement.