Mayors dust off
their wish listsThe county executives will
press legislators for money
for overdue repairs and purchases
Neighbor island mayors are expected to ask the state to play catch-up on funding projects now that the economy is rebounding.
"Although the economy might be much more positive than it was a year or so ago, the catch-up or revenue issue is still a real critical thing for both the state and the counties," Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim said.
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The county mayors are to present their case today to the Senate Ways and Means Committee and House Finance Committee.
Kim and other county mayors will also focus on the subject of home rule, such as the Hawaii Association of Counties proposal to give the counties the authority to impose a county excise tax.
Both Kim and Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa said they do not see their counties imposing the tax, but believe that the counties should at least have that choice to make.
"That is one of the benefits of it -- if we wanted to, we would have the option, but right now the numbers don't justify it for Maui," Arakawa said.
After several years of no-growth budgets and falling behind on repairs, maintenance, construction, personnel and purchasing, the state and counties need to focus on the things that have been neglected over the years, the mayors said.
"While we've been able to run good budget, we still have much of the infrastructure that we have to catch up," Arakawa said.
Arakawa said the state needs to "clean up its act" in deteriorating schools, roads and hospitals because those issues also affect the counties. "When there's a pothole that appears on a state road on Maui, they don't call the governor, they call the mayor."
He said he will suggest to the Legislature ways the state and county can work together to address some of these problems. "I think working together is the only way we can possible make any kind of headway. None of us can do it independently."
Arakawa's legislative priorities include long-standing requests such as state funding for an Upcountry dual irrigation system and upgrading Molokai's irrigation system, and funding for controlling invasive species such as miconia and the coqui frog. Maui is also seeking additional funding for substance abuse treatment.
The Big Island's priorities include roads, police communications and facilities, Kim said. "If you look at our legislative package, most if it, as far as our priorities are concerned, are all catch-up."
Roads on the Big Island are an example of how the state and county will be working cooperatively to see priority projects are addressed, Kim said.
Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste could not be reached for comment, but county spokeswoman Cyndi Ozaki said funding is being sought for deteriorating infrastructure such as sewers and solid-waste facilities.
Members of Mayor Jeremy Harris' administration could not be reached for comment yesterday.
