By the third straight day of budget talks, Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille had heard enough. By the third straight day of budget talks, Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille had heard enough. ADVERTISING Before noon Friday, the Kohala representative had
By the third straight day of budget talks, Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille had heard enough.
Before noon Friday, the Kohala representative had grown tired of the cadre of department heads highlighting needs not met in the proposed budget, and decided it was time to speak her mind.
During what is supposed to be time for the council to ask staff questions about their supplementary requests, Wille, one of several freshman council members, let her protest of Mayor Billy Kenoi’s fiscal plan be heard.
“The bottom line is I think this whole budget is a sham,” she said out of frustration while addressing representatives of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter, who was chairing the Finance Committee meeting, interrupted Wille, noting that she was out of step with the council’s rules of order and decorum.
“I don’t want this to be an attack session,” she said. “And, please watch your behavior or I’ll have to read the rules of decorum into the record.”
Wille then amended her comment to being “very disappointed” with the budget proposal, adding that the Parks and Recreation Department’s list of 80 unfilled positions is “unacceptable.”
“We’re getting way past what is essential services,” she said.
Puna Councilman Zendo Kern came to the administration’s defense, saying it must present a balanced budget.
“Income and expenses have to match,” he said. “Departments are making cuts to try to provide the basic services that we need.”
Wille later said she made the statement to “acknowledge that current finances are not covering needs.”
Wille said she would like the administration to start a budget that meets the demand for services.
The $370.8 million budget Kenoi has proposed is 1.5 percent larger than the 2012 budget, but because of decreased revenue is 8 percent less than when he took office in 2008.
Kenoi was not at the meeting, but he said in a phone interview that Wille’s comment was inaccurate.
“Everyone would like to say yes and provide more programs and services, and that costs money,” he said. “The council needs to make difficult decisions, as do our department heads and our administration.”
The council will determine whether Kenoi’s budget includes the right decisions.
During meetings this week, many department heads said they are having to do a lot more than what their funding can cover.
Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma said the department is offering a “status quo” budget, but is requesting $532,524 in additional funds for equipment and personnel.
Honma told Stephens Media the department wants the equipment, which includes a pickup truck with a dumper and mini excavator, to increase efficiency.
“It would be nice to have both in a perfect world,” he said, referring to the equipment and filling vacant positions.
