Mayor Billy Kenoi will present his proposed $434 million budget to the Hawaii County Council today but will not be able to answer questions regarding use of his county credit card for personal expenses, a spokesman said.
Mayor Billy Kenoi will present his proposed $434 million budget to the Hawaii County Council today but will not be able to answer questions regarding use of his county credit card for personal expenses, a spokesman said.
“He is going to present the budget like he has in the past,” Peter Boylan, an executive assistant to Kenoi, said late Tuesday, adding the mayor will not answer questions regarding the controversy because of an ongoing state attorney general investigation.
The appearance will be Kenoi’s first before the council since Big Island newspapers reported he used his county purchasing card, or pCard, for personal expenses. He has reimbursed the county $31,112.59 for non-work costs.
Earlier in the week, Boylan had only two words when asked if the mayor planned to attend today’s meeting: “No comment.”
The mayor’s office also turned down an opportunity to respond to those calling for Kenoi to resign in light of the controversy. The mayor took time off Thursday and Friday to “reflect and be with his family,” Boylan wrote in an email Friday.
This week, county department heads are presenting their budgets before the council’s Finance Committee. Kenoi is scheduled to present an overview of the operating and capital budgets and programs this morning. Up until Tuesday afternoon, it was unclear whether Kenoi would show up.
Finance Committee Chairwoman Karen Eoff wrote in an email Monday that she had not been notified about whether or not the mayor was going to attend.
Last month, a newspaper story revealed the mayor had routinely used the county card for personal expenses, including charges at a pair of hostess bars and to purchase a high-end surfboard. Since then, his financial records have come under increased scrutiny, resulting in a state attorney general investigation, county ethics complaints against the mayor and the county finance director, and even a petition calling for a recall election.
That petition, initiated Monday by Russell H. Doi of Hilo, was found to be invalid Tuesday since he is not a registered voter, said Pat Nakamoto, county Elections Division administrator.
While Kenoi apologized for his behavior during a press conference earlier this month in Honolulu, he has yet to answer questions in a public setting on the Big Island.
Kohala Council-woman Margaret Wille said her hope is that Kenoi shows up today, as many of her constituents have expressed concern over the level of credit card abuse.
“If he can’t appear before us, he ought to think of taking a leave of absence,” Wille said.
Unlike Wille, Ka‘u/South Kona Councilwoman Maile David said she does not anticipate asking questions today regarding Kenoi’s pCard use, but rather will focus on review of department programs and budget requests.
Through Thursday, department heads will be presenting their financial needs and briefing council members on program goals and objectives. Public testimony will be heard at the beginning of each meeting, and council members will be free to ask questions, according to Eoff, who represents North Kona.
Regarding the pCard issue, Eoff said it is a “serious issue and one of concern,” but that there are appropriate agencies to deal with it.
“We need to allow that process to unfold, and in the meantime, it is our responsibility to focus on the 2015-16 departmental budgets and program reviews as publicly noticed on the agenda,” she said in an email.
The $434,667,890 budget request for fiscal year 2015-16 is $17,752,059, or 4.3 percent, larger than last year. Today’s meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Hawaii County Building in Hilo.
Email Chris D’Angelo at cdangelo@hawaiitribune-herald.com or Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.