[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6093148,"mediaKeyId","2849140-331d0a503fbe03bd50db3263c154c0bb","parentId",2849140,"title","Budget committee actions at a glance: transfers approved, two tax measures postponed, Bill 60 set for public hearing","audioSeconds",6284,"startMs",125000,"endMs",6409000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2849140-331d0a503fbe03bd50db3263c154c0bb&start=125&end=6409","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2849140-331d0a503fbe03bd50db3263c154c0bb/thumbnail_125000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093148/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Budget-committee-actions-at-a-glance-transfers-approved-two-tax-measures-postponed-Bill-60-set-for-public-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093148-d96af2001ad9a68308aeaef3e6fd5f6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164918&Signature=c72FUkp~xFMIic3W7CZO3w8FOUqRieheHt2eZqEfmACMSJOtzcKRluG738ca07vsFGibQ7vPaxV88RzzM3DQUeYT-8VG2QcdkKnEM1GNZ8uHEHfC4VFu~N6rseZwu9R5Rnd7ctnUA3Jsuwnvq1QoazXoDMQi6grLccz~M3yOuVfKQeHcCjH7jb0EF6BZpDkGxPH441TOnFkpYI1-R1BUILniF1Y0Ta7q0saKkZ5OMr27Hd94bQfcKZPBT-emoM3~sgLTODP944OQSUtdcqneBhEQd7~Fc3BKe2I38xGokCta~N9s09Nx0ZeJjCidFUp6Xcq1CfidnPNiK~Dgr3Ou1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Honolulu, HI","date","2025-04-02T16:26:34.873Z","article","The Honolulu City Committee on Budget acted on multiple items April 1. Key outcomes reported to full council or advanced from committee were:

- Bill 2 (cleanup amendments): The committee amended Bill 2 to a posted CD1 and reported it out for second reading and scheduling of a public hearing. The chair said the proposed CD1 was posted and available; no public testimony was received at committee.

- Resolution 25‑87 (salary transfers): The committee reported Resolution 25‑87 out for adoption. The resolution authorizes transfers not to exceed $778,800 in General Fund monies and $4,000 in Liquor Fund monies to cover authorized pay increases and accrued vacation payouts; Liquor Commission administrator and Budget staff were present to answer questions. The committee recorded no objections and advanced the resolution for adoption.

- Resolution 25‑62 (2026–2030 Consolidated Plan): The committee reported the consolidated plan and FY26 action plan to the full council for adoption. Staff indicated the plan will prioritize nonprofit acquisitions with current CDBG funds and that HOPWA funding will transition to state allocation next year.

- Bill 60 (sewer fees): The committee amended Bill 60 to a CD1 put forward by Council Chair Waters (adopted by committee with modifications) that sets a 4% increase for 2025 and blanks out proposed dollar figures for years beginning 07/01/2026 to permit further work with the administration. Bill 60 was reported out for second reading and scheduling of a public hearing.

- Bill 17 and Bill 45 (real property tax measures): The committee postponed action on Bill 17 (homeowner exemption increase) and Bill 45 (real property tax credit) to a date and time to be determined by the chair to allow further study and possible formation of a permitted interaction group to review tax relief measures.

- Resolution 25‑90 (mobile hygiene trailers): The committee reported Resolution 25‑90 authorizing transfer not to exceed $300,000 in General Fund monies to purchase two mobile hygiene trailers for use with transitional housing and homeless services; the committee advanced the resolution for adoption.

- Resolution 25‑84 (DTS software subscription): The committee reported Resolution 25‑84 authorizing an intradepartmental transfer not to exceed $271,971.59 to continue a 4.5‑month software subscription supporting bus and rail service integration and planning; staff said the purchase was a timing gap not included in the current year equipment budget.

How the committee handled votes: in each case the chair called for objections and, finding none, declared the measure amended or reported; the transcript records no roll‑call tallies. Committee members discussed programmatic details and requested follow‑up information (for example, bond documents and billing lead times for the sewer rate item) before full‑council action or public hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 04 01 BUD","oneSentenceSummary","The Honolulu City Committee on Budget reported several resolutions and ordinances out of committee: transfers for liquor and department operations, equipment and software were advanced for adoption; two real‑property tax bills were postponed; Bill 60 was amended and set for second reading and public hearing.","taxTitle","Honolulu City, Honolulu County, Hawaii","taxId",61746,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6093153,"Committee approves draft consolidated plan; HOPWA allocation will shift to state next year",1743,3679000,5422000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2849140-331d0a503fbe03bd50db3263c154c0bb&start=3679&end=5422","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2849140-331d0a503fbe03bd50db3263c154c0bb/thumbnail_3679000.jpg","/articles/6093153/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Committee-approves-draft-consolidated-plan-HOPWA-allocation-will-shift-to-state-next-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093153-ea833ad163e95b6f4a46ce47dd264b93/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164918&Signature=AGBPpcXWb3JU3ZbJl~gaGOkKMu1iCzQIDJ38fJha4HOqw4rGhSNPdQhFhLeG4klH3OuBg0jPVBMfy~cmcalaKEuhT~QGypE7NfUvYmnxRGQRG9UMen0dNzr5GOFJnEd790--eM6TS4whoAXi2ckWt2tUbby7ML1GCwMM6njOY25E4Jnb5BI6MgcTdAntnrbgAkf9GjDlUo-~JuKFea4WM8-dkh~Q5Dr~jhLlf8zEPj34bdVhXq-8Sl4GuZWA42u21X2Y3TLQ4ILSRSGKEa-bOUgRX9ugdu1~F2-4IdlM~wI0GyuBVFuQqAj0TxKUa2zLvkYL1qXT0GBBYB--AggEkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Honolulu City Committee on Budget reported Resolution 25‑62 out for adoption after a presentation by Budget and Community Services staff outlining the draft 2026–2030 Consolidated Plan and the annual action plan for HUD formula grants.

Deputy Director Edward Los Banos of the Department of Community Services said the plan prioritizes nonprofit‑led acquisitions and clarified that the city’s Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) allocation will not continue as a distinct city grant in future years. Los Banos said the most recent census data reduced the eligible population for a city‑level HOPWA allocation; starting next year HOPWA funds will be managed at the state level and the department has begun transition talks with the State and service providers.

Why it matters: the consolidated plan sets priorities and the annual action plan programs for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, Emergency Solutions Grants and other HUD funding streams that support affordable housing, homeless services and nonprofit capital projects. The committee’s discussion focused on using a majority of the city’s CDBG award this year to fund nonprofit acquisitions and on improving program delivery after past delays in multi‑year capital projects.

Key points from staff: Andy Kawano, director of Budget and Fiscal Services, told the committee that recent receipt of the city’s grant will be used to fund an acquisition by the nonprofit Family Promise of Hawaii and other nonprofit priorities. Kawano said some project lists and funding lines will be reprogrammed now that the current grant is available; he described the changes as technical and said the plan’s priorities will not change materially. Deputy Director Los Banos said $732,613 is the amount listed in the plan for HOPWA in the current year and that the Housing Trust Fund grant component is returning to the consolidated plan this year; staff said they are coordinating with the Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation on administering that funding.

Committee members pressed staff on operational detail and transparency. Councilmember Kiana asked that the plan language be updated to reflect the committee’s shift toward nonprofit acquisitions rather than multiyear park projects. Kawano and Los Banos said they will insert technical edits and continue to work with council offices.

Action: the committee reported Resolution 25‑62 to the full council for adoption.

What’s next: staff will finalize technical edits to the plan before the council takes final action. Departments and nonprofit partners will continue to work on solicitations and allocations for CDBG and related funds.","The committee reported Resolution 25‑62 approving the 2026–2030 Consolidated Plan and action plan to the council for adoption, and staff said Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funding will move to the state allocation next year while the city focuses CDBG funds on nonprofit acquisitions and housing priorities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6093158,"Council committee advances revised sewer rate package after debate over bond risk and customer relief",5796,724000,6520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2849140-331d0a503fbe03bd50db3263c154c0bb&start=724&end=6520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2849140-331d0a503fbe03bd50db3263c154c0bb/thumbnail_724000.jpg","/articles/6093158/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/Council-committee-advances-revised-sewer-rate-package-after-debate-over-bond-risk-and-customer-relief","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093158-9d35966a24fdc1cd5b118a158969808b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164918&Signature=WMtcleZ3YNQvjz0xAxskiL26fc2J-JT6odu-R7Z8THx37EFx8jxVoUsFIece2TRT35SfLVXApUnjiQ5pmTsC9irNfUzWUjNQ6vYpKZpMM9kHsk~vSSWj1P9fcYprLO-lFhKc6Vp6j-fD724SUSTYVUE5BkzGiQ3jgIdKlkX1CPPTO8ci4JDQNMTF2CDQ6Am6rScc~iSyFHypTE5Wqla~KLVo-5ZCGHju5fEQxghaZJ~EnpUqhH49QPe~Fl5vw90pSNqH~SltufyAJppS8Y4~HeUwDmmOA-l8Jj-NlgJo~O8VFxhkgYH~vZYv7p3nlVh~SZ3-LCgBfG8UsFv11mKfUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Honolulu City Committee on Budget on April 1 advanced changes to Bill 60, a proposed 10-year sewer rate package, approving a revised CD1 that sets a 4% increase for 2025 and sends the ordinance to second reading and public hearing while leaving later-year rate figures to be determined.

Committee members and department officials spent more than two hours on the sewer fund's capital needs and the rate study that supports them, focusing on the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade, multi‑billion dollar capital needs and the tradeoffs between a larger multi‑year rate path and using general fund dollars to blunt rate shock.

The proposed comprehensive rate path presented by the Department of Environmental Services called for a front‑loaded series of rate increases — “9% per year for the first six years, then 8, 7, 6 and 5 percent” — to meet revenue requirements for operations, reserves and a capital program the department estimated at roughly $10.1 billion over 15 years. Director Roger Babcock said the plan comes from a finalized rate study that evaluated alternatives including shifting more charge to volumetric pricing and establishing a customer assistance program.

Why it matters: the sewer enterprise issues revenue bonds whose ratings and borrowing cost depend on the fund’s financial performance. Andy Kawano, director of Budget and Fiscal Services, said the bond documents and rating‑agency expectations effectively require the sewer fund to be self‑sustaining. \"The Sewer Fund is supposed to be self sustaining,\" Kawano said, adding that he does not recommend using general fund transfers as a long‑term subsidy of sewer operations and debt service.

The administration's preferred 10‑year package would raise an additional $2.816 billion in rate revenue across the decade, the presentation showed. Under the more gradual option discussed in committee and reflected in the council chair’s CD1, the gap between the higher and lower rate paths could require hundreds of millions in transfers from the general fund in later years if revenues are not raised elsewhere.

Babcock highlighted constraints and timing on the Sand Island upgrade: Phase 1 is under construction and about 60% complete; Phase 2 is in design and would add about 70 million gallons per day. He said design should be completed by 2028, the city should bid the project no later than 2028 and start construction in 2029 to meet the consent‑decree schedule.

Rate structure changes and customer impacts: the study recommends moving toward a 50/50 split between fixed (base) charges and volumetric charges from the current approximately 73/27 split to improve equity and encourage conservation. Under the presented 10‑year 9% scenario, typical residential examples in the department’s slides showed big differences by water use: a median user (6,000 gallons/month) would see their sewer charge roughly double over the 10‑year period; heavy users would see larger percentage increases. The department proposed an income‑qualified customer assistance program at 80% of area median income, offering a monthly credit ($20–$25) for qualifying households.

Credit rating risk: Babcock read a passage from a Standard & Poor’s document noting that \"The preliminary rate adjustments are expected to support healthy financial performance despite considerable additional leverage,\" and warned that failure to adopt an adequate rate path could prompt a rating downgrade that increases borrowing costs for the sewer enterprise and could affect broader city credit.

Council response and amendment: Council Chair Waters proposed a CD1 that would adopt a 4% increase in 2025 and use identified vacancy savings in the general fund to offset the remainder of this year’s revenue need. Chair Waters noted that about $22 million (the committee discussed a $22–24.5 million range) could be drawn from vacant‑position savings to cover the shortfall for FY26 and buy time for the administration and council to develop a longer‑term plan. The committee’s chair amended the posted CD1 to adopt the chair’s 4% for 2025, blanked future dollar figures for 2026 onward to allow more discussion, and reported the bill out for second reading and scheduling of a public hearing.

Public comment and technical notes: speakers at committee public meetings and town halls were cited by staff as limited in attendance, and the Board of Water Supply told members that any adopted rate change requires lead time to implement in the billing system — three months for simple rate adjustments and up to six months for structural changes (tiered volumetric blocks). A resident testifier who said she uses about 2,000 gallons per month urged the committee to prioritize pay‑down of debt so conserving households do not shoulder disproportionate increases.

What’s next: Bill 60 (as amended to the chair’s CD1) was reported to the full council for second reading and public hearing. The committee left the later years of the rate schedule open for further council‑administration negotiation; staff and council members said they will continue discussing possible offsets including targeted customer assistance, alternative revenue sources and whether limited one‑time general fund support could be used in the near term without violating bond covenants.","The Honolulu Committee on Budget amended Bill 60 to adopt a one-year, 4% sewer fee increase and sent the measure for second reading while members, department directors and bond analysts debated higher multi-year increases, bond covenant limits and a customer assistance program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget committee actions at a glance: transfers approved, two tax measures postponed, Bill 60 set for public hearing

Committee approves draft consolidated plan; HOPWA allocation will shift to state next year

Council committee advances revised sewer rate package after debate over bond risk and customer relief