Fee hikes Various budget-cutting proposals by individual City Council members will make the city "dysfunctional," Mayor Jeremy Harris said yesterday.
compete with cuts
to services
The mayor dismisses some
budget-slashing proposals as rhetoricBy Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com"I think it's important that we be honest with the people. It's inappropriate, really, to come out with proposals that are absolutely unworkable and will have drastic impact on public safety and public services," Harris said.
"In every area where you look, many of the cuts that are being proposed are simply for show and are not really honest and could never be implemented."
Harris' comments come in response to suggested amendments to the administration's version of the budget.
Those suggestions include proposals by Councilman Charles Djou to slash up to 75 percent of departmental expenses, and several recommendations to eliminate or drastically reduce the Office of Economic Development and activities such as Sunset on the Beach.
Harris and administration officials say drastic cuts will paralyze the city, which would:
>> Not be able to pay utility bills such as electricity, water and phones at city facilities, including police stations and City Hall.
>> Close gyms, pools and other recreational facilities.
>> Shut down the city's computer system, which translates to no payroll printing, no vehicle registration, driver licensing and other financial transactions.
>> Cut gasoline and fuel for city vehicles such as ambulances and refuse trucks.
"The cuts are specifically targeted to the operational funds for all these various services," the mayor said. "None of those cuts can be made in reality. We think it's important that the hyperbole, that the political rhetoric be set aside."
The mayor spoke out on the day the Council's Budget Committee complained about several of the administration's proposals to raise fees. The proposals were sent to the Council for a public hearing next week.
"How are people going to weather all these increases?" Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi asked.
Those proposals include:
>> Increasing by more than three times, to $4,641, the amount charged to developers for hooking up a home to the city sewer system.
>> Raising fees for building permits, zoning actions and other planning changes. The administration says the increase is needed to help the Department of Planning & Permitting attain self-sufficiency. The developer-backed Land Use Research Foundation testified the fees would have an "adverse impact" on the cost of building homes. Council members also questioned whether the increase in fees would equate into better, quicker service in processing permits.
>> Increasing the fees to spay and neuter dogs and cats -- $75 to spay a female dog, $50 to spay a female cat and $40 to neuter a male cat. The Hawaiian Humane Society is opposed to the fee hikes because they could lead to people opting not to sterilize their pets, leading to an increase in the feral cat population. One possible change to the proposal may be to have a lower fee schedule for low-income residents.
>> Charge a $2 fee for certain transactions -- including motor vehicle registration renewal, bicycle and dog licenses, loading permits, water bill and real property tax payments. The administration hopes the fee will encourage more people to do business by mail or over the Internet. Council members questioned whether some people who pay by cash, do not have checking accounts or do not have computers will be unfairly penalized.
Harris countered that he believes the fees are fair and reasonable.
City & County of Honolulu
