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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-05-31 budget message Kauai County Council Budget Message for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 May .31 2006 Page 2 experienced significant increases in the costs of electricity and fuel. Recognizing the need to monitor these expenses the Council has requested that the Administration actively manage and monitor County use of electricity and fuel and to take necessary steps to keep these expenses under control. The Council is supportive of initiatives such as increased purchases of hybrid vehicles and encourages the Administration to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel sources As a County it is vital that we look towards conserving existing resources while at the same time exploring viable proven long-range alternatives Office of the Mavor Pursuant to Section 24.03 of the Kaua i County Charter the Charter Commission has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the County Charter and making necessary recommendations for amendments The Council recognizes the significant amount of work the Charter Commission has been tasked with and has appropriated $96 000 to assist in their work. An integral part of the Charter Commissions work includes a public education campaign prior to any proposed Charter amendment being placed on the ballot. The Commission has conducted meetings throughout the community in an effort to gather input from residents raise public awareness of the process and to review possible amendments that may appear on the ballot. This funding will support the Commissions work up to the 2006 General Election. The Council has also appropriated $15 000 to support other County boards and commissions In recognition of the significant uncompensated contributions of volunteers who serve our community as members of boards and commissions these funds are intended to be used in part for meals for all boards and commissions Office of the Countv Attornev The Council has provided funding for two (2) new Deputy County Attorney positions The intent of providing these new positions is twofold. One position is to be assigned to provide essential and consistent support for County boards and commissions and particularly to the Planning Commission and Police Commission. The second position is to provide consistent support at Council and Council Committee meetings Kauai County Council Budget Message for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 May .31 2006 Page .3 Office of Economic Development The Council is in support of an additional $15 000 of funding in the C )ffice of Economic Development for the Filipino Centennial Celebration, allocating a total of $50 000 for this celebration. The Council has also appropriated $70 000 for the continuation of the YWCA Sexual Assault Treatment Program (SATP) This program provides 24-hour crisis intervention, individual and group counseling and medical, legal, and judiciary advocacy for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families The program also provides information to the community regarding sexual assault/abuse and its prevention. Funding for a $39 000 grant has been provided to the Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC) to continue on-island efforts to eradicate alien invasive species such as the coqui frog, whose presence on the Big Island and Maui is causing adverse economic, social, and environmental impacts It has been stated that coqui frog infestation across all islands is so complete that eradication remains a viable goal only for the islands of (_Yahu and Kaua i. This grant goes towards maintaining the voluntary partnership of government, private and non-profit organizations and concerned individuals working to prevent, control, or eliminate the most threatening invasive plant and animal species in order to preserve the native biodiversity of Kaua i. Finance Department The Council concurs with the Administration that in light of disaster- related expenses incurred following the recent heavy rains it would be prudent to increase funding allocated to the Disaster Trust Account. The Council has therefore supported adding $95,939 to this account, for total funding of $145 939 in the Disaster Trust Account, to allow for timelier and more comprehensive responses to such unforeseen events The Council is in support of the Kauai Humane Society s request to fund a new humane officer position, and has therefore funded the additional $30 000 requested by the Administration, for total funding of $575 685 for the Kaua i Humane Society to continue its important work in the community The Council recognizes the importance of addressing the numerous concerns raised by the current situation at the Kaua i Police Department, as well as in other County departments and has allocated an additional $60 000 for management assessment initiatives within the Finance Department budget. Such assessments could include reviews of current management Kauai County Council Budget Message for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 May .31 2006 Page 4 structures and assessments of morale issues in the Kauai Police Department and any other County Departments These reviews are necessary to identify specific problems and areas of concern, and to assist in the formulation of plans for improvement. Planning Commission The Council acknowledges the need for the members of the Planning Commission and staff of the Planning Department to have access to the most current planning practices and information in order to effectively perform their duties The Council has therefore allocated $5 750 for Commissioners and Planning Department staff members to attend smart growth and multimodal transportation planning conferences Kauai Police Department In support of the Administration s request for additional staffing in the Kauai Police Department, the Council has funded a new Police Evidence Clerk position to assist tracking of evidence vital to successful prosecution in criminal cases as well as funding a new Police Records Clerk position to assist the departments records staff with updating the Records Management System (RMS) The Council has dollar-funded one (1) Warrants Officer position, which was created in Fiscal Year 2005-2006 after alarming statistics revealed that almost a thousand arrest warrants many of them for felony charges were left unserved. The Council continues to strongly urge the Kauai Police Department to take an active role in expeditiously serving these warrants so that individuals may promptly answer to charges and victims need not be subjected to undue anxiety in order for justice to be served. The Council has also provided funding to re-instate the departments inmate car wash program. This program has been in the past, a cost effective program proven beneficial to both the County and to inmates who participate in the program. It gives the inmates an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the community Kauai Fire Department The Council has concurred with the Administration s request for the following new positions in the Kauai Fire Department: one (1) Senior Clerk, one (1) Fire Prevention Inspector I, and one (1) Fire Apparatus Operator The Council has also concurred with the Administrations request to convert four (4) part-time lifeguard positions to two (2) full-time lifeguards This is Kauai County Council Budget Message for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 May .31 2006 Page 5 part of the County s three-year water safety master plan, which includes the reorganization of the Water Safety Bureau and the establishment of a career ladder for employees in the bureau. It is also intended to bring the bureau closer to its optimum workforce goal of thirty-four (34) Water Safety Officers island wide Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Division The Council has supported the Administrations request to fund the Bulky Item Pickup program for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 However the Council has requested that the Administration provide an evaluation of the initial program as well as a plan for the program proposed in Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Council approval of the plan is required prior to expenditure of Fiscal Year 2006-2007 funds allocated for the Bulky Item Pickup program. Department of Public Works - Parks Division The Council is in support of the Park Planning Coordinator position proposed by the Administration and has requested that the Administration obtain Council consensus of the positions scope of responsibilities prior to commencing the recruitment process Severe damage caused by the breaching of Ka Loko Reservoir and widespread flooding in the wake of recent torrential island wide rains have emphasized the need to be prepared for future catastrophic events The Council is therefore in support of the Administrations request to purchase three (3) 6-inch (6') pumps that can be used for both future flood events as well as in daily operations and has therefore allocated $96 000 for the purchase of these pumps to be placed in the three (3) major island wide districts The Council has requested that the Administration submit a maintenance plan for these pumps in order to protect this investment. Offices of Communitv Assistance - Aeency on Elderlv Affairs Recognizing the importance of our seniors and the senior meals program, the Council has supported $25 000 requested to expand the senior meal service program. It is the Council s intent that these funds be used to provide meals for those most in need in order to alleviate anxiety that elderly participants on fixed incomes are faced with given the uncertainty caused by a constantly rising cost of living Kauai County Council Budget Message for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 May .31 2006 Page 6 Offices of Communitv Assistance - Recreation Aaencv The Council is in support of the Administrations request for $35 000 in funding for the Kauai Police Activities League (KPAL) program, which provides positive after-school and weekend activities for the youth of our community as well as valuable interaction between police officers and participants The Council requests that all best efforts be exerted to provide that a minimum of five (5) officers be involved at any KPAL activity and that these funds seed new programs that do not have existing organizations to support their activities Offices of Communitv Assistance - Transportation Agency At a time when fuel costs continue to rise, public transportation becomes a more attractive and affordable means of transportation to an increasing number of people on the island. To make the Kauai Bus more user friendly the Council has provided $6 000 in the budget of the Transportation Agency to provide for the posting of bus schedules at bus stops throughout the island. Budget Provision The Council has added a new budget provision to the County s Operating Budget intended to clarify the process by which it handles gifts bequests contributions or donations of moneys funds materials merchandise products equipment, and services (including but not limited to in-kind services) from any private person, company entity or non-County source This provision requires that all such gifts bequests contributions or donations shall first be submitted to the Council for approval prior to being received. III. Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) General Fund - CIP The Council has appropriated an additional $363 691 to the CIP Project Contingency account, bringing its total amount to $1,866 044 The intent of this appropriation is to address emergencies and unanticipated costs which could occur during the upcoming fiscal year In Fiscal Year 2005-2006 the Council appropriated $1000 000 to initiate extensive upgrades of all neighborhood centers around the island in recognition of the fact that these facilities are a vital part of the fabric of each community s social life Extensive usage and intermittent vandalism of Kauai County Council Budget Message for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 May .31 2006 Page 7 neighborhood centers has taken its toll on each facility To supplement this major renovation project and to provide attention to details that may have been overlooked during the initial assessments for renovation and repair such as replacement of termite-damaged and/or deteriorated interior cabinetry and sinks replacement of flooring tiles etc. the Council has appropriated an additional $150 000 in funding to complete this important project. The Council also recognizes the important role that parks and recreation facilities play in the life of our community and especially in regards to our youth. The Council is in support of funding $250 000 for island wide parks improvements/equipment and has also provided additional funding of $55 000 for Kapahi Park playground equipment (to be the top priority) and other projects including plans for a motocross track; $50 000 for '(_)ma o Park playground equipment; $50 000 for Puhi Baseball Field park improvements and $100 000 to provide for bleachers in County parks The Council recognizes the critical importance of maintaining and resurfacing our County roads and requests that the Administration aggressively pursue utilizing Federal Highway funding to continue the Islandwide Road Resurfacing Program. It is the Councils intent that leveraging these Federal dollars will help increase the miles of roads that can be addressed per year The Council has provided $125 000 in funding for much needed repair and reconstruction efforts at Pu a Road in Kalaheo The Council is in support of $500 000 funding for the design of Pouli Road in Waipouli, which is part of planning for improved traffic circulation in the Kapa a-Wailua corridor The Council has also supported funding in the amount of $390 000 for a human resources payroll time and attendance system. IV Conclusion In response to increasing real property tax assessments the Council has provided significant tax relief through such programs as the Circuit Breaker Credit, the Long Term Affordable Rental program, and the 2% Permanent Home Use program, while still focusing on the importance of providing improved service to the public. The Council continues to address concerns regarding maintenance and upgrading of basic infrastructure such as roads and facilities Kauai County Council Budget Message for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 May .31 2006 Page 8 (e.g neighborhood centers parks and recreation facilities) which are valuable assets to the community In the wake of emergency response challenges that arose from recent heavy rain events the County has been tasked with addressing damage to roads and other infrastructure, such as the Moloa a Bridge, and with debris clean-up generated from flooding In light of these events the Council has taken budgetary measures to prepare the County to respond both financially and operationally in the event that similar emergencies occur in the future With regard to public safety support of the Police and Fire Departments in this budget through additional staff positions and program funding are part of the Council s ongoing commitment to assist these departments in their basic mission. To protect and serve the people of the County of Kauai. The Council extends its appreciation to the Administration, all Department Heads and other County employees for their invaluable contributions during this budget session, and for their continued commitment to provide the highest levels of public service to the people of Kaua i. In addition, the Council thanks the Hawaii Congressional Delegation, Kauai State Legislative Delegation, and Governor Linda Lingle for their continued support and assistance