LIHU‘E — As the county anticipates less incoming revenue, some previously approved infrastructure projects may need to be put on hold.
Earlier this month, the County Council were proposed Bill 2791, amending the county’s budget for the current fiscal year (ending June 30) by dropping the estimated General Excise Tax Fund collections by $2 million. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has put tourism and other industries on hold.
Of the $2 million revision, the county Department of Public Works Roads Division reduced its budget by $1.9 million, the Transportation Agency cut $75,000 for administration, computers and accessories, and $25,000 in operations.
“This is a certain situation where we set the revenue based on the budget based on the economy last year, and we know we’re going to take a hit in general excise tax,” Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro said at the meeting, citing a downturn in the island’s economy.
Already, the department has said it postponed 10.55 lane miles of preventive road maintenance work and canceled a crack fill and slurry seal bid and award.
A tentative list of roads to be resurfaced and maintained in 2021 shows 134 roads totaling 74.76 lane miles. This list, which was last modified on Jan. 24, can be found on the county’s DPW website.
Additionally, road resurfacing and fill slurry seal programs for the upcoming budget year will be adjusted.
“As far as next year’s GET, that is going to be incorporated in this next budget that we are currently working on,” Kaneshiro said.
The regular Excise Tax Fund is in the $26 million range, Kaneshiro said during the meeting, where the $2 million is coming from.
“We already saw the initial budget that the mayor sent over,” Kaneshiro said. “We saw the numbers that they were expecting without COVID-19, and I’m sure the supplemental (budget) will see a much lower number based on our current situation.”
A public hearing on this bill is Wednesday, May 6. Public testimony can be sent to the the council at counciltestimony@kauai.gov, as the council continues to meet remotely with no physical public participation allowed.
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
how about putting some of the prisoners to work….picking up trash or something to help our around here;
we will soon find out how valuable those pesky tourists are, that we complain about all the time !!
Mahalo Mayor, U R a local who cares, U even show U do the local style. Mahalo again for your example and care for our people and home.
The island has some very inflated salaries. The young lawyers at the prosecutor’s office earn double state and national norms, for example. There is half a million dollars saved right there, with maybe a 30% pay cut for these lawyers. And when was the last time someone was killed in a fire? But look at the huge budget of the sacred cow fire department.