Kauai mayor’s car
hits Council pothole

Kusaka's luxury lease prompts a
return to line-item budget rules

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By Anthony Sommer
Star-Bulletin

LIHUE >> The mayor's new car ended up in the Kauai County Council chambers again yesterday with calls for an investigation into whether Mayor Maryanne Kusaka violated procurement laws when she leased the car earlier this year.

The comments came as the Council unanimously approved an $81.5 million operating budget for fiscal year 2002, an 18 percent increase over this year's $70 million budget. Also approved was a property tax decrease of 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for all classes of property plus another 10 cents for residential property.

At the same time, the Council stripped Kusaka of the broad authority given her three years ago to move funds around within county departments. Next year's budget returns to a strict line-item format.

Wally Rezentes, the mayor's administrative assistant, refused to comment on speculation Kusaka would veto the budget. With a 7-0 vote yesterday, the Council appears certain to override any veto attempt.

The issue of line-item budgeting erupted this spring when it was discovered Kusaka had shuffled money within her office to lease a 2001 Chrysler 300M luxury car.

Councilman Kaipo Asing, who failed in a bid to unseat Kusaka in 1998, said the Council approved $3,700 in auto expenses for the mayor this fiscal year, and instead she spent $15,813 on an auto lease.

The car was leased without going through the normal bidding process, a move that was termed legal by the Kauai County Attorney's Office.

Asing yesterday asked for an investigation under new audit powers given the Council last year by the voters. Council Chairman Ron Kouchi and Councilman Gary Hooser sided with Asing.

"Someone gave her very bad advice, in my opinion," Kouchi said.

Asing said he would make a formal request for an audit within a week.

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Kauai County