Newswatch
Bainum said he counts up to $68 million in one-time sources in the budget delivered to the Council.
"I am struck again with the reliance on one-time, one-year solutions," Bainum said. "Say we limp through this year, we'll have to replay this again next year."
Property tax revenues are projected to drop for the fifth straight year in 1997-98, and some are wondering how much more creative the administration can be before it caves in and calls for increases in tax rates.
Harris said Sunday that if assessments increase next year, it's highly likely tax rates will increase.
Lowell Kalapa, director of the nonprofit Tax Foundation of Hawaii, said: "The thing is, (the city) is avoiding the real question. Are the citizens willing to pay more taxes in order to maintain the current level of services? But they're finding little shell games."
Budget Director Malcolm Tom - who disputes Bainum's $68 million one-time-source estimate as too high - shot his own questions back to Bainum, Kalapa and other skeptics.
"What's the alternative? The alternative is to raise taxes and we are committed not to raise taxes."
Tom said he "totally agrees" with concerns about over-reliance on one-time revenue sources. "We need to continue to restructure and streamline the government," he said. "And we need to diversify our revenue sources and be less dependent on property taxes."
Leaders planned to recommit it to committee today after it reached the floor of the House.
Gov. Ben Cayetano has said he will veto the bill if it ever reaches his desk.
The House Finance Committee reported the bill out earlier. It would permit a gambling casino on the Big Island if county voters approved it in a referendum.
Landowner Michael Hands has said he wants to build a casino on his Kona property.
A consultant hired by Hands told the committee that a $200 million casino-resort complex would create 1,340 jobs and provide $19.2 million in state and county revenues.
City Water Safety Division officials closed the beach yesterday because of the concentrated numbers of jellyfish, and expected the problem to continue today. Two people reported being stung yesterday.
Lifeguards also posted warning signs at Ala Moana and Waikiki beaches about the monthly tide of jellyfish, which occurs on southern shores nine days after a full moon.
Officials said the jellyfish are expected to diminish in numbers by tomorrow and be gone by Friday.
The crew of the Manseok radioed the Coast Guard at 2:53 a.m. after they struck or were hit by another vessel, said Petty Officer Kathleen Wedge of the Coast Guard Group Honolulu. None of the five crew members was hurt.
They were unable to identify what hit them because it was dark, Wedge said. Attempts to hail the other vessel were unsuccessful.
The Coast Guard helicopter located the stricken vessel and dropped two pumps while a C-130 monitored the situation. The five-man crew managed to bring the flooding under control but are awaiting the cutter Assateague for possible towing, Wedge said.
A boy, 16, was nabbed at 12:30 p.m. yesterday in connection with the Jan. 29 robbery. He was released pending investigation.
At least four males entered the Baldueza Mini-Mart that day and asked the clerk to use the tele<P>phone. When she refused, two of the boys allegedly grabbed her and began choking her while the other two grabbed the cash register and fled, police said.
A delivery man who tried to help her was also punched.