Letters for Wednesday, April 8, 2009

•Why isn’t the budget process televised?

• Council should defer, not cut, expenditures

•Much mahalos

•Color blindness is wonderful

Why isn’t the budget process televised?

The Kaua‘i County Council Budget & Finance Committee commenced Monday in Council Chambers to review Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s proposed 2009–2010, $154 million budget.

The meetings have been scheduled through April 20.

Traditionally, this seasonal march by various administrators before the council present for examination neatly trimmed budgets and/or bloated expenditures, based upon your point of view.

According to Gary Heu, long-time administrator, the mayor’s budget is satisfactorily reduced from the previous year by 2.5 percent, the first-time it’s dropped in 14 years.

Trumpeted ad nauseum for those who follow council meetings, “times are tough and getting tougher” is the mantra-beat in this age of crisis. True enough, which should make these budget hearings of utmost import to the citizenry. But, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer may never know the rationale behind the expenditures because these meetings are not televised and never have been. But, why?

The answer depends on who you ask.

Currently, a rate of $265 per hour to broadcast county meetings through Ho‘ike gets budgeted then rests with the Boards and Commissions administrator. The predictable answer, an answer given earlier this year to an inquiring commissioner of another un-televised board, is “because we don’t have the sufficient budget.”

In my opinion, this prescription is a euphemism for “it’s not important enough to broadcast to the public,” but it could also mean, “we don’t want to show you.”

That squarely does not mesh with how Councilman Jay Furfaro characterized these current meetings in his opening statement Monday morning, “This is the most important job (council) does.”

At 50 hours of broadcast time, the county would spend $13,250 to show you the players who will spend your money, why and how. 

Money that is apparently well-saved in times of budget “crisis” or budget surplus.  

Rolf Bieber, Kapa‘a

Council should defer, not cut, expenditures

I wanted to clarify a statement in Tuesday’s article “Sparks fly as council starts budget review.” It was reported that I asked “new” council members to cut any expenditure that wasn’t essential. My message was to all seven council members, not just the new ones.

Furthermore, I did not ask them to “cut” any expenditure. I asked each council member to ask each department head one question. The question was, “Can you do without this expense for the upcoming year?” If the answer was “yes,” I asked that the expenditure be deferred (not cut) until such a time that the county could afford it. I specifically asked not to cut the expenditure, but to defer it until we get to a point when it becomes essential or the fiscal position of the county allows for it.

In fact, I asked them to leave the item in the budget with $1 allocated to preserve the item in the budget. If that simple question is asked, and the council members defer spending on non-essential expenses, we will survive this economic storm.

As the state threatens to take away funds, cut positions, reduce salaries and employee benefits, Kaua‘i has to take care of its own. We have to assume that we will not get state money. We have to budget with the belief that we are on our own. The bottom line is that we have to live within our means.

As I went over the budget, I observed many items that are non-essential. I promised the seven council members that the general public won’t get upset if they practice good fiscal judgment. In fact, the general public expects them to do so. I believe that they will.

Mel Rapozo, Lihu‘e

Much mahalos

Just wanted to give a big thanks to all the volunteers and businesses who are helping to fix up Polihale State Park.

Shows the rest of the state that Kaua‘i gets it done. Proud to be Kauaiian!

Kyle Balauro, Honolulu (Kekaha)

Color blindness is wonderful

When someone asks, “Are you haole?” I respond, “Why what I did?”

When someone says, “What comes after two?” I respond, “Tree.”

I now say “da” instead of “the” and always great people with a friendly “howzit.”

I legally changed my name from James  to “Kimo.”

President Obama says there is not a White American or an Asian American or a Black America, there is only the United States of America.

Color blindness sure is a wonderful thing, or should I say “ting?”

James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa’a