Council leaders argue
over city budgetOkino and Kobayashi disagree
about how to fund operations
City Council Chairman Gary Okino and Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi sparred verbally yesterday over whether to cut services or raise revenue through higher taxes and fees for the city's operating budget.
"I need the support of the Council to stand up and say, 'We're not going to be bullied anymore.' We're protecting our residents, and at some point I hope this Council becomes independent and does its work," Kobayashi said after an Okino comment on cutting a proposed increase in sewer hookup fees.
When Kobayashi got the support of Councilman Charles Djou to cut in half the proposed increase, she replied: "Thank you. Good to have the support of independent thinkers."
Okino said that even the Council's support staff didn't agree with Kobayashi.
"I'm for being independent and all that, but I don't think we're being bullied ... If we just say we want to take a stand and then we do this, and we jeopardize the sewer fund, to me that doesn't make sense. You do what you have to do, but I don't believe we're doing the right thing in this case."
The dispute between the two Council leaders came as the Council was wrapping up work on the $1.2 billion city budget. Many of the issues approved by the Budget Committee yesterday will be voted on at the June 4 Council meeting, although the operating budget has yet to be passed by the committee.
Okino publicly disagreed with Kobayashi on parts of the budget plan put together by Kobayashi.
He said he agrees with the city administration's position that Kobayashi is "double counting" revenues from the not-yet-sold Block J downtown municipal parking lot.
Kobayashi said that it's the administration that began using money that doesn't exist.
Okino also lost two battles when the committee voted against his recommendation to raise property taxes 2 cents higher than the mayor proposed and to implement commercial trash hauling fees that were already scheduled to go into effect in July. Okino said the extra revenue would help restore $1.6 million in administration cuts made to police and fire positions.
The exchange came yesterday during a Budget Committee meeting, where:
>> The mayor's $23 million property tax hike proposal won approval.
>> An $8 a month fee for trash pickup and a related recycling program was dumped.
>> Hikes in bus fares -- including raising the single adult fare to $1.75 and the monthly bus pass to $30 -- received the green light.
>> Spay and neuter fee increases for most pet owners and a lower $20 fee for low-income residents were passed.
>> Fee increases for building and other development permits along with sewer connection hookups were approved.
>> Commercial trash hauler tip fee increases were rejected.
The committee will vote Tuesday on the $1.2 billion operating budget.
City & County of Honolulu
