Council intends
to override HarrisThe mayor counters by saying
that he will seek court action
The City Council set up a showdown with Mayor Jeremy Harris, officially declaring yesterday that it will vote to override the mayor's vetoes of nine city budget items.
"I think it's pathetic," the mayor said, referring to the Council action.
Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz said, "I think there is more than enough information to prove why we need to override."
Last month, the mayor used his line-item veto authority to strike $703,000 from the Council's legislative budget. He also vetoed several budget conditions in both the $1.22 billion operating budget and the $298 million capital improvement budget.
The Council's July 14 meeting agenda posted yesterday indicates the Council's desire to override those vetoes.
The Council needs six votes to override the vetoes. Dela Cruz pointed out that seven members voted to pass the budget during its final reading last month. "I would find it highly unusual if they were inconsistent."
Harris said that if the Council proceeds with the override, he will take the Council to court to enforce a legal budget. He said the Council's "annual kabuki" of passing an illegal budget has got to stop.
Dela Cruz said, however, he is confident in the Council's legal ground in proceeding with the override.
Harris said the Council is wrong on several fronts:
>> The Council will override vetoes that will help balance the budget.But Dela Cruz said the Council is abiding by the law and that there is precedent to support its planned actions. He also said that sustaining the mayor's vetoes could also result in legal ramifications.
>> The Council is fiscally "irresponsible" by increasing its legislative budget by 32.5 percent while at the same time cutting vital city services.
>> The Council is "legally mistaken" to think it can schedule the override after the start of the fiscal year that began July 1 because the budget bills have already gone into effect. "I think they've missed the opportunity to override the veto," Harris said. "My vetoed budget has become law."The mayor's veto could wipe out part of the $800,000 to plan for next year's National Association of Counties convention in Honolulu, Dela Cruz said, which worries NACo officials.
The Council received a letter from NACo Executive Director Larry Naake voicing concerns if Honolulu had to cancel as host of the conference because of the potential impact of any cut to the planning funds. "I am reluctant to engage in local political matters but wanted to share with you the potential problems that his action may cause," Naake wrote.
As an example, Naake said NACo has entered into contracts with hotels for more than 9,000 room nights. "The hotel contracts obligate NACo to pay substantial damages if NACo cancels the meeting and the hotels are unable to rebook the contracted rooms."
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