Mayor Kim seeks
cuts in budget

A $7.1 million budget shortfall forces
the Big Isle to assess priorities

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By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com

HILO >> A 3.6 percent shortfall in Hawaii County funds has prompted Big Island Mayor Harry Kim to call for departmental budget cuts as soon as Monday.

County Finance Director Bill Takaba said some areas cannot be reduced, so the cuts may be as high as 10 percent in other areas.

The cuts are due to conditions unrelated to the East Coast terrorism attacks, said county Managing Director Dixie Kaetsu.

The county is operating with a $196.1 million budget this fiscal year, Takaba said. County revenues will be short of that amount by $7.1 million, he said.

Likely areas for cuts will be employee positions that are funded but vacant, equipment purchases and scheduled projects, Takaba said.

After eight years of austere budgets under former mayor Stephen Yamashiro, there is little left to cut.

Maj. Charles Chai said the Police Department is operating with the same amount of money it had last year.

"We will have a very, very difficult time cutting our budget in any substantial way," he said.

One possible focus would be the police overtime budget, the largest among the various departments.

But cutting overtime would mean shifting the assignment of personnel, which could affect programs, Chai said.

Recognizing that some positions and services are essential, Kim has not called for across-the-board cuts, Kaetsu said.

Instead, departments are asked to voluntarily make cuts now, while submitting written proposals which will be reviewed throughout October, Takaba said.

As to the effects of the economic downturn caused by terrorism attacks, those will be felt in next year's budget, Takaba said.