LIHU‘E — The new Kaua‘i County Council, with two new members, has an action-packed agenda today for its first committee meeting. Professional skateboarder Danny Way is scheduled to join county officials for an update on the progress of a partnership
LIHU‘E — The new Kaua‘i County Council, with two new members, has an action-packed agenda today for its first committee meeting.
Professional skateboarder Danny Way is scheduled to join county officials for an update on the progress of a partnership between the administration and private citizens, which will produce at least two skate parks in the near future.
But before Way’s presentation goes under way, council members will hear from the administration what is going on at Kilauea Gym, where a persistent leaky roof has caused at least one accident and has damaged the wooden floor.
The council will also look at five bills. Two bills will deal with reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, related to the storm in March.
Prior to the Committee of the Whole dealing with the FEMA bills, the Finance and Economic Development Committee will take on two bills.
One of the bills would increase revenue for the county, and the other would guarantee that there is money in the bank in case the administration has an emergency.
Bill 2444 proposes to increase by 300 percent the minimum real property tax charged on Kaua‘i. Hawaiian homesteaders and certain residents qualify to pay $25 in annual property taxes. This bill would increase the minimum tax to $150.
Bill 2457 proposes to create a reserve fund for the county, reflecting 15 to 25 percent of the county’s previous year’s actual operating budget.
Under Chair Jay Furfaro’s proposal, half of this reserve fund would be allowed to be used to cover shortfalls in the operation budget. A quarter of it could be used for budgetary stabilization. Fifteen percent would be for initial disaster response, and 10 percent would be reserved for non-insured losses.
The last bill of the day, taken by the Committee of the Whole, would provide funds to Hale ‘Opio’s Teen Court program, in the form a $31,000 grant. The program had its contract with the Office of Youth Services terminated Oct. 31, after months without receiving referrals from the Office of Prosecuting Attorney. The bill is the result of a promise from Furfaro to provide funds to Hale ‘Opio to keep Teen Court going.
Visit www.kauai.gov for more information.
