Hawaii 24/7

Complete county budget available for review online

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The Abercrombie Administration submitted its budget this afternoon with a renewed commitment to providing a secure and promising future for Hawai’i. The balanced budget seeks to achieve a healthy surplus, incorporates savings achieved through solid fiscal management, funds high-priority programs, and does not rely upon any tax increases.

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Special to Hawaii 24/7 by Councilman Pete Hoffmann I know this is only November, but the first rumbles from the next budget ‘brawl’ have appeared. Perhaps that’s not such a terrible thing; after all, the budget should remain one of the principal legislative measures throughout the year, particularly in time of economic distress. First we […]

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MEDIA RELEASE The Department of Human Services (DHS) will reduce its Child Welfare Services (CWS) contracts with community providers and the University of Hawaii by $5.8 million beginning Dec. 1, 2011. Services impacted by the reductions include family strengthening and support services, emergency shelter care, Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, recruitment, training, and […]

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Mayor Billy Kenoi announced today that tight restrictions on hiring, overtime, purchases and other expenses have allowed the County of Hawai`i to realize a fund balance of $24.682 million at the end of the 2011 fiscal year on June 30. That is $10.74 million more than the county expected to have on hand at the […]

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President Obama’s press briefing regarding an agreement to extend the nation’s debit limit Sunday (July 31).

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Kohala Councilman Pete Hoffmann issued the following statement after the County Council failed to veto Mayor Billy Kenoi’s budget: Happy New Fiscal Year (2011-2012) to you all. The County has managed to stumble into July and has survived the budget struggles of the past two months. Permit me a few observations on the results and […]

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Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Editor The county’s 2011-2012 budget went into effect Friday, July 1. The final version is the one Mayor Billy Kenoi proposed several months ago, after a last minute veto vote failed at Thursday’s County Council meeting. The $367.3 million budget had become something of a tug-o-war between Kenoi and a […]

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MEDIA RELEASE The close of the fiscal year will result in changes to public employee wages and benefits. Beginning Friday, the start of the new fiscal year, the Abercrombie Administration must implement the state budget as passed by the State Legislature. This includes a 5 percent in temporary pay reductions from June 30, 2009 salaries […]

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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2011 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii ORDER OF THE DAY (SECOND OR FINAL READING) Bill 63: AMENDS CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 42, SECTION 2-214, HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO THE PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION FUND […]

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MEDIA RELEASE The Governor’s Weekly Message shares how July 1, the start of the new fiscal year, marks a change in direction for Hawaii. The budget passed by the legislature — which I have now signed into law — requires our Administration to operate with hundreds of millions less than we believed necessary to restore […]

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MEDIA RELEASE Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed into law House Bill 200 CD1, which appropriates funds for the operating and capital improvement budget of the Executive Branch for fiscal years 2012 and 2013. This bill contains a $50 million “fiscal constraints” reduction for each of those two years that must be allocated statewide. The budget […]

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Council calls special meeting (June 24); needs majority six votes to over-ride mayor’s veto

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Kohala Councilman Pete Hoffmann issued the following statement on the county budget: Using the recent budget discussions as a background, I had hoped that the Mayor would recognize the opportunity that presented itself for establishing a cooperative relationship with the Council. Unfortunately, that didn’t occur. I’ll admit I’m wasn’t completely surprised, but I am disappointed […]

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