Community E-Newsletter & Update
   March 2008 - Special Budget Newsletter
   Monthly news from Councilmember Todd K. Apo, City Council District I
   www.toddapo.org
    subscribe/unsubscribe info at the end of this message 

Overview of the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year Budget 

Aloha!  March marks the beginning of the FY 2009 budget review cycle
for the City & County of Honolulu.  The budget is an important planning
tool for the City and its operation.  Elected officials can make the
most significant impact in policy, government priorities and goal set-
ting through the budget.

The City Council's annual budget review and adoption is one of its
most important duties. As Chair of the Budget Committee, our office
is directly responsible for managing this review cycle, which lasts for
approximately 3 months.

 

The budget process is also probably one of the most important govern-
ment functions for residents. Through the adoption and implementation
of the City budget, government services are funded, projects initiated
and real property taxation rates set.  However, the numerous figures,
spreadsheets and other support information available can make grasping
the City budget an overwhelming task.


What's in this newsletter?
To provide a clear picture of what the budget is, how the review
cycle works, and how you can participate in the process, this entire
newsletter is dedicated to the budget.  Articles include:

 

Understanding the City Budget

Public Participation in the Budget Process

Calendar:  FY 2009 Annual Budget Review Public Hearings

Capital Improvement Program

 

About the FY 2009 Executive Budget
Up for Council consideration are the proposed Executive Operating &
Capital Budgets, the Legislative Budget, and the Revenue Program
for the upcoming 2009 Fiscal Year. These proposals cover all of
the city's expenditures, capital projects, as well as financing and
revenue mechanisms.

Collectively, five legislative items comprise this year's Executive
Budget package:

Bill 18 - Executive Operating Budget complete document
Bill 19 - Capital Improvement Program Budget complete document
Bill 20 - General Bond Authorization
Bill 21 – Real Property Tax Credit
Resolution 08-58 - Real Property Taxation Rates

For the 2009 Fiscal Year, the Mayor has proposed a $1.8 billion
Executive Operating Budget (Bill 18) representing a 5.5% increase.
This increase is primarily attributed to an overall rise in cost for city
services, fuel expenses, debt service payments, and retirement
system contributions. 

The Capital Improvement Project Budget (Bill 19) totals approximately
$831 million, an estimated increase of 5%.  Mass Transit construction,
sewer system upgrades and the establishment of new fire stations are
just a few of the projects in the Capital Program.  I have included a
list of proposed CIP projects for District 1 in this newsletter.

 

As part of the generation revenue program (Bill 20, Resolution 08-58),
no real property tax rate increases are currently proposed. 
Instead, the financing mechanisms for FY 2009 include the issuance
of General Bonds and maintaining revenues at the present property
tax rates.  In addition, a property tax credit (Bill 21) similar to those
issued in FY 2007 & FY 2008 is again proposed for Fiscal Year 2009.

 

Your input is important
During the next couple of months all members of the Council will care-
fully review these budget proposals. In this review process, it is always
helpful for all of the Councilmembers to know what projects, organiza-
tions and City services are important to you.  It would be great if you
are able to attend Committee and Council meetings. However, calling,
faxing or sending email messages and testimony about specific items
can be easier and is just as helpful in the evaluation process.

 

As always, you can email me at tapo@honolulu.gov. During the year
I regularly send out electronic newsletter updates, so please visit my
website at www.toddapo.org and join our mailing list. If you have any
other questions, please call me at 547-7001. 

Aloha,

Todd K. Apo
Councilmember, District I

---

Understanding The City Budget

next | previous

 

Budgeting is a planning tool and is the most significant means available
to elected officials in policy making, goal setting and prioritizing govern-
mental activities. As such, the Council's participation in the annual review
and adoption of a budget for the City & County of Honolulu is one of its
most important duties. The budget review cycle, in summary, comprises
three separate phases:

• Preparation
• Budget Review 
• Execution
  

Preparation
Commencing the budget cycle is the Mayor's preparation and submittal
of the Executive Operating and Capital budgets to the Council.  The
Operating budget includes allotments to fund government services and
functions. The Capital budget contains annual appropriations for projects
that are part of the City's six year Capital Improvement Program.  Both
budgets are conceptually in effect for one year running between July 1
and June 30. Monies, however, can be encumbered beyond that period,
and this is predominantly done for the Capital budget.

 

A proposed Revenue Program accompanies the Mayor's Executive budget. 
The revenue program consists of various financing and legislative
mechanisms.  In addition to borrowing and/or securing grants, the City
may also make adjustments to several rate schedules, such as Real
Property Taxes, Fuel Taxes and Sewer Fees, in order to raise monies. 
The Revenue Program identifies what means will be utilized to fund the
proposed budgets.

 

 

Budget Review
The Charter requires that the Mayor submit a balanced Operating and
Executive budget, with any proposed financing mechanisms, to the
Council at least 120 days before the end of the fiscal year. This normal-
ly occurs around March 1.  Upon receipt of the budget the second phase
of the budget cycle begins with City Council review.

 

Over a period of approximately 3 months, the Council's Budget Committee
holds over a dozen public meetings and departmental hearings to discuss
the budget.  During this period, the Council not only receives public input,
but also surfaces amendments to the proposed Executive budgets.

The Charter mandates that the Council must be completed with their
review and have adopted an Operating and Capital budget no later than
June 15. After adoption, both budgets are sent to the Mayor for signature.
Barring any veto and upon signature, the adopted budgets are considered
enacted.

 

Execution

The final phase of the budget cycle is execution. This encompasses ex-
pending and encumbering funds approved in the Operating and Capital
budgets.  This normally begins with individual department's submitting
quarterly expenditure plans to the Department of Budget and Fiscal
Services and the Mayor for review and approval.

Upon approval departments are authorized to proceed with making
expenditures. However, throughout the year all appropriations and allot-
ments are dependent on numerous factors including actual cost, com-
pletion time frame and the availability of monies. Therefore, simply being
included in the Operating and Capital budget does not always guarantee
funding.

back to top | jump to end

 

 

---

 

Public Participation in the Budget Process 
next | previous

 

 

How can I watch the hearings?  How can I testify?

From March to June, the Budget Committee will hold public hearings,
and this is an excellent opportunity for you to be involved. It would be
great if you are able to attend committee and council meetings, how-
ever faxing or sending email messages and testimony about specific
items can be easier and is very helpful in the evaluation process. Let
all of the councilmembers know what projects, organizations and City
services are important to you.

 

To stay informed about Council actions and the budget review process,
City Council meetings can be viewed online (see website below) or on
Olelo (Oceanic Cable Channel 54), "Inside Honolulu Hale."   It is also
possible to sign up to receive meeting and agendas notifications via email.

The following links may be used to sign up for meeting notices, watch
meetings online, or to review Council legislation including the proposed
budgets:

City Council Information

City Council Documents

Budget Information

Public Hearing and Testimony Information

City Council Meeting Video Library

back to top | jump to end

---

 

Calendar: FY 2009 Annual Budget Review Public Hearings

 next | previous

 

 

MARCH

 

March 11 – March 20

DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET BRIEFINGS 

Honolulu Hale, Second Floor, Committee Meeting Room 
(departmental order is tentative)

 

 

Tuesday, March 11

9 am - 4 pm

DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET BRIEFINGS 

Office of the Mayor

Department of Design and Construction

Department of Budget and Fiscal Services

Department of the Prosecuting Attorney

 

 

Wednesday, March 12

9 am - 4 pm

DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET BRIEFINGS 

Department of Enterprise Services

Department of Facility Maintenance

Department of Corporation Counsel

Liquor Commission

 

 

Thursday, March 13

9 am - 4 pm

DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET BRIEFINGS 

Department of Information Technology

Department of Transportation Services

Department of Human Resources

Honolulu Emergency Services Department

 

 

Monday, March 17

9 am - 4 pm

DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET BRIEFINGS 

Department of Planning and Permitting

Department of Customer Services

Department of Emergency Management

Royal Hawaiian Band

 

 

Tuesday, March 18

9 am - 4 pm

DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET BRIEFINGS 

Honolulu Police Department

Department of Parks and Recreation

Honolulu Fire Department

Department of Community Services

 

 

Thursday, March 20

9 am - 4 pm

DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET BRIEFINGS 

Environmental Services Department

Department of the Medical Examiner

Legislative Branch

 

 

APRIL

 

Thursday, April 10

SPECIAL BUDGET COMMITTEE 

Hearings on Proposed CD1

 

Wednesday, April 23

SPECIAL FULL COUNCIL / PUBLIC HEARING 

Tax Rates, Budget goes to Second Reading

 

 

MAY

 

Tuesday, May 20

Wednesday, May 21

SPECIAL BUDGET COMMITTEE 
Hearings on Proposed CD2

 

 

JUNE

 

Wednesday, June 4

FULL COUNCIL / PUBLIC HEARING 

Tax Rates, Budget goes to Third Reading 

 

June 15, 2008

CHARTER DEADLINE FOR FY 2009 BUDGET

 

back to top | jump to end

---

 

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Projects  
back to top | previous 

 

Typically, a significant portion of the City's budget is invested in
Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). This year as more than 180
(189) projects carrying a price tag of over $831 million are poised
for Council approval.

 

District 1 projects currently up for Council approval during this
budget cycle include the following:

 

CIP Projects - First Review List
Ewa Villages Revitalization Project - Area D - $500,000

Kapolei Consolidated Corporation Yard - $3,570,000

Americans With Disabilities Act Improvements - $600,000

Kapolei Police Station Air Conditioning - $25,000

Kapolei Police Station Automated Fuel System - $30,000

Waianae Police Station Replacement - $500,000

East Kapolei Fire Station - $1,185,000

Ewa Beach Fire Station Relocation (Ocean Pointe) - $246,000

Computerized Traffic control System - $3,481,000

Traffic Signal Optimization, Phases - $1,250,00

Flood Control Improvements At Various Locations - $ 3,660,000

Guardrail Improvements - $300,000

North-South Road/Park Row Roadway - $1,520,000

Drainage Outfall Improvements at Various Locations - $795,000

Drainage Improvements - $2,565,000

Renton Road Street Lighting Improvements - $190,000

Solid Waste To Energy Facility - Pollution Control - $10,001,000

Solid Waste To Energy Facility – Purchase - $1,000

Solid Waste Weighing Facility - $102,000

Ewa Beach Sewers, Section 4, Improvement District - $751,000

Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant And Sewer - $9,504,000

Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade - $1,003,000

Lualualei Wastewater Pump Station Force Main - $10,802,000

Public Buildings Facilities Improvements - $4,900,000

Leeward Coast Park Improvements - $1,000,000

Ocean Pointe Park - $350,000

Reconstruct wastewater Systems For Parks - $2,000.000

Recreation District No.3 Improvements - $1,000,000

West Loch Shoreline Park - $75,000

West Loch Golf Course - Ponds & Waterways - $410,000

Bus Stop Site Improvements - $300,000

Honolulu High Capacity Transit Project - $265,128,000

Intra-Island Ferry - $2,000

 

District 1 CIP Budget = $62,618,000

 

Honolulu High Capacity Transit Project = $265,128,000

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK & HOME GRANTS

Committee Recommended Awardees - click here for complete descriptions

Parents and Children Together Family Peace Center - $135,933

United States Veterans Initiative - $90,000

Women In Need (WIN) - $200,000

Family Promise of Hawaii – $109,325

Moiliili Community Center - $100,000

Good Beginnings Alliance - $171,004

Helping Hands of Hawaii - $152,472

Adult Friends for Youth - $116,000

Windward Spouse Abuse Shelter - $154,369

Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii - $1,000,000

Catholic Charities Hawaii - $2,000,000

Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation - $1,000,000

Independent Living Waipahu, Inc. - $186,250

Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP) - $1,500,000

Parents and Children Together - $120,000

Lanakila Rehabilitation Center, Inc. - $300,000

Kahi Mohala (Sutter Health Pacific) - $547,816

Institute for Human Services, Inc. - $60,000

Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation - $1,500,000

Hui Kauhale, Inc. - $925,000

City and County, Dept. of Customer Services - $960,000

Coalition for Specialized Housing - $540,000

 

CDBG/HOME Grants = $11,868,169

back to top

Newsletter Archives
If you would like to read previous newsletters, you can browse our
archives of past issues online.