[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6565560,"mediaKeyId","3217776-91d50ea636272dfd42c5e551763e17e2","parentId",3217776,"title","Committee forwards $270,000 FTA planning grant for Pāhoa transit hub and $1.5M for Kailua-Kona supportive housing","audioSeconds",3663,"startMs",857000,"endMs",4520000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3217776-91d50ea636272dfd42c5e551763e17e2&start=857&end=4520","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3217776-91d50ea636272dfd42c5e551763e17e2/thumbnail_857000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565560/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Committee-forwards-270000-FTA-planning-grant-for-Pāhoa-transit-hub-and-15M-for-Kailua-Kona-supportive-housing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565560-4048b1fdfa64e2b9be07305bc54a48ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445389&Signature=VXsR9En0wp-FhQxLx9~Zr3clGlKt6xxrAVtXGzJjgS3oSKUDEOguzpDpXmRHD2exDO2gXTIXurcYGFkfNPcKd6nG6HJqYPlBX8Wj-g6DI2Vs3YaIWW0N0Vk8jlAoDnIHk3HnGkkv~RLcepFXYiu~aMHiYPHb47gNvIJict9u-e0uHV33yCjQeVauTNyJxOH3l0ZzYzOFmF1PNdG8F64Gbrzwa01qkp8Rl1XOX2xPP7z2JEnpQfUEpiBdFPV8qdAhaa55PqztOS6KxUGjVeieqbcctk~G6SgpZHM45fSEisGcsFCO0q6xW5ud1mOMbwYtVS1oKEIWY93XK9neVnMTXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hawaii County","date","2025-05-06T13:00:00Z","article","The Committee on Finance voted to forward two separate budget measures to the full council with favorable recommendations.

Resolution 138-25 (and corresponding Bill 48 in the committee) authorizes the mayor to accept $270,000 in Federal Transit Administration Section 5304 funds for planning the Pāhoa Transit Hub. The committee received no public testimony on this item and forwarded the resolution to council without discussion; the clerk reported nine members in favor.

Resolution 139-25 (and corresponding Bill 49) authorizes the mayor to accept $1,500,000 in federal funds through the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism for development of the Kukui Ola permanent supportive housing project in Kailua-Kona. Committee members expressed support for the project; Councilmember Baker said she was “deeply excited” about forward momentum on the West Side supportive-housing project. The motion carried with nine members in favor.

Both measures were forwarded to the full council for final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hawaii County - Finance Committee - May 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The finance committee unanimously forwarded two budget measures: one to accept a $270,000 Federal Transit Administration grant for planning a Pāhoa Transit Hub, and another to accept $1.5 million in federal funds for the Kukui Ola permanent supportive housing project in Kailua-Kona.","taxTitle","Hawaii County, Hawaii","taxId",12825,"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},6565563,"Finance committee backs setting housing-homelessness transfer at no less than $9 million",748,4330000,5078000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3217776-91d50ea636272dfd42c5e551763e17e2&start=4330&end=5078","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3217776-91d50ea636272dfd42c5e551763e17e2/thumbnail_4330000.jpg","/articles/6565563/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Finance-committee-backs-setting-housing-homelessness-transfer-at-no-less-than-9-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565563-d5ff2a594238c0e1190eab07e013dc08/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445389&Signature=RNuaTYCdZ3FeTRtQuWqz4K2FWvcDG7lksROMqCyqzVhwvGu3Pl9Qn-Lh2eXs8oUSgioYgWo8UJ8J0Uk4Tw3i5LngDe8COR-0NE60VI8o3qMLdYTLk16P8XDAZuaL-kBnQ3tSaK4Do-dmabRDmrzqdv2KLaBOzK-aiw4aqb7~-DFRPAu2LenT0-JDVoDNTXOCaM~xTxlpTbnN7~hxYDX~-gAZJTwPVmIJVwYSZ-U9LJlyaqTDrqYOyRjpTMnNRphdErMXwnNZSISaDF1Ss~OIxF-0wxvMOYTh6aCOZBgDInV05pN0saS-ihfJjTn0Dz-h~EtbFQ9EmZRTCsj0Y57pzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The finance committee voted to forward Bill 50 to the full council with a favorable recommendation. The bill would change the county code to allocate no less than $9,000,000 from the residential tier 2 property-tax class to the housing and homelessness fund, replacing a prior requirement that the transfer equal 75% of that class’s revenue.

Councilmember Kogewata, lead sponsor, said the change is intended to give the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) a predictable baseline so grantees and the department can plan multi-year programs. Councilmember Reynaldo Inaba and others said the fixed floor avoids the volatility that can come from a percentage-based approach tied to property-tax revenue.

Members debated language and contingencies. Councilmember James Kimball suggested including a phrase such as “the lesser of the funds collected or $9,000,000” to guard against a scenario in which the tax class collects less than $9 million in a year. Members in Hilo said certainty is important for OHCD planning and that the council will revisit the allocation when the section sunsets on June 30, 2027.

The committee also adopted a provision that any unspent balance at fiscal year-end remain in the housing and homelessness fund, allowing recipients to carry unobligated balances forward for the same purpose.

The motion to forward Bill 50 carried unanimously; the clerk reported nine members in favor. Members said the change does not prevent the council or administration from appropriating more than $9 million in a single year if circumstances warrant.","Committee members voted to forward Bill 50, which replaces a percentage-based transfer of residential tier 2 tax revenue with a fixed floor of $9 million for the county’s housing and homelessness fund. Sponsors said the change provides planning stability; some members suggested language to account for low-revenue years.",{"_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},6565568,"Committee backs two $50,000 grants to island animal nonprofits amid questions about oversight and grant vs. contract use",2142,208000,2350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3217776-91d50ea636272dfd42c5e551763e17e2&start=208&end=2350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3217776-91d50ea636272dfd42c5e551763e17e2/thumbnail_208000.jpg","/articles/6565568/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Committee-backs-two-50000-grants-to-island-animal-nonprofits-amid-questions-about-oversight-and-grant-vs-contract-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565568-1ce0c91fc100564716ec8505b0cd8252/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445389&Signature=F08po1lBcV5bqDG0DEJdaFn0L6~uRH8d6UXfRAawGgFpPccAzPdupvnPFrXYr1KByFkxfzjooixHcEHtkhnHyEH74k3Fd-pr9hZsLJX-1XBSH5I3ewqlQtQwZo8u~v1UQEavkvMw6eFemubpmkT2miv09qKQaBAX96owCHiyVH3UrOCCtmiPI96QU9fdMfOiWjqzY0nir-nbFPmsJKDc3pAUqXJXCEcUFh2X4C-FcvK5QJdNg0hGxLEUiySYbR09AJN7cOswef4PjKv4spfzbeksQm~peXlUhzFL4cw9Gt-CZICZCazrfbhlMt3r9UKTP-TUJSjsPgN0l3PLNxz3Gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hawaii County Council Committee on Finance voted to forward two resolutions to the full council that would award $50,000 each to Aloha Animal Alliance and to Hawaii Island Humane Society for animal care and rehoming programs.

A public testifier, Lisa Lane Carden of Aloha Animal Alliance, told the committee the funds would support trap-neuter-return (TNR) work, district hubs for microchip scanners, signage, volunteer equipment, transport, and a digital community hub for lost-and-found and TNR management. Matt (animal-control staff) described prior efforts to use a $150,000 budgeted contract to build a centralized portal; the county was unable to award a vendor contract in time for the fiscal year and officials said the funds were left in a contractual-services account.

Council members probed whether the money should be provided as grants or used to procure contractual services. Finance Director Diana Kagawa said the county sometimes reallocates funds during the year to meet needs and that departments should plan such uses in the budget cycle; she said staff could work with Animal Control to present options. Corporation Counsel Renee Schoen told members the council must decide whether the proposed uses meet a public purpose; she said the body has discretion and should document the public benefit when awarding grants.

Councilmember Reynaldo Inaba asked for a detailed budget breakdown before the full council hearing; Matt agreed to work with the finance department to provide line-item spending plans. Members added that county grant practices should be standardized so nonprofit recipients present consistent exhibits and budget information to the council. Several members expressed support for partnering with community organizations because the county cannot, by itself, deliver all spay-and-neuter services at scale.

On a roll call, the committee forwarded Resolution 140-25 (Aloha Animal Alliance spay/neuter grant) and Resolution 141-25 (Hawaii Island Humane Society transport and rehoming grant) to council with favorable recommendations. Both resolutions passed the committee by recorded votes of seven in favor and two opposed; the clerk recorded two “no” votes (Councilmember Onishi and the chair) on each measure. Other committee motions to close routine communications and to forward related budget items carried unanimously.","The finance committee voted to forward resolutions awarding $50,000 each to Aloha Animal Alliance and Hawaii Island Humane Society for spay/neuter, transport and rehoming initiatives. Members pressed county staff on whether funds should be used as grants or contracts and asked for detailed budgets and reporting standards.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565573,"Hawaii County committee backs exempting buildings on Hawaiian homelands from property tax",1158,3188000,4346000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3217776-91d50ea636272dfd42c5e551763e17e2&start=3188&end=4346","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3217776-91d50ea636272dfd42c5e551763e17e2/thumbnail_3188000.jpg","/articles/6565573/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Hawaii-County-committee-backs-exempting-buildings-on-Hawaiian-homelands-from-property-tax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565573-16c982a68a7bc1858717e5dc1b568400/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445389&Signature=BNP5TMpR40yPUFmr1~uyIEbAoUerLjIAX2UEt7ZdtshEqmzSXqIVJhkiib-SPsf~S0UHD8DIOJmCgUSSySIyGS8rK0giL3~xGYAJ9CR6FyaIqlCf4sXVJhsElOPmFedStcYdIVSRKESVSLd-tBn5sOYFlJrl7maWqiJnVbTmODrhWtBGVyzEjeogcPhbkQH27ioC7EyEMBF8h3TcogSzUukJfbKW0B8ePblVSBrnbh1QEy1bJ4P4tBdd0zIL3IYBemk4U55ldW7aBFxvMPusnwcYCsVYd8NI84xy-wfFID3bKM5L0TEurfc9kVdDrTM2HBKWJGyCy~xzlGe-DT-Raw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hawaii County Council Committee on Finance voted to forward Bill 44 to the full council with a favorable recommendation after discussion among council members and county tax officials.

Bill 44 would amend Chapter 19, Article 10, Section 19-89 of the Hawaii County Code to exempt the value of buildings on Hawaiian Home Lands homestead parcels from real property taxes, while preserving a minimum tax. Councilmember Reynaldo Inaba, who introduced the measure with Councilmember Brandon Eustace, said the change replaces the code phrase “exclusive of buildings” with “inclusive of buildings” to align county practice with other islands and reduce disparities for homestead lessees.

Real Property Tax Administrator Lisa Miura told the committee the office reviewed the proposal and found it would “make it more fair and in line with the other counties.” Miura noted an administrative requirement: parcels remain under state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) control until a state “route slip” transfers them to the county tax roll. Keita Joe, Assistant Real Property Tax Administrator, added the change would increase equity because some lessees currently receive homeowner exemptions and others do not; under the proposed language more lessees would receive the same benefit.

Council members said they supported the measure for parity with other counties. Councilmember James Kimball asked for counts; staff said about 29% of parcels already in the homeowner classification are at the minimum tax and estimated the change would increase the number of parcels at minimum tax to roughly 2,098. Staff estimated an annual reduction in county property tax revenue of approximately $1,440,000 if the bill passes.

The committee discussed budget implications but members generally described the expected revenue reduction as manageable and supported the change on equity grounds. County staff said the bill would reduce workload in the tax office because homeowners on affected parcels would no longer need to apply for exemptions one-by-one.

The committee’s motion to forward Bill 44 to council carried with the clerk reporting nine members in favor.

The committee also noted that outstanding delinquencies on commercial DHHL leases remain a separate issue to be pursued with the department.","The County Council finance committee voted to forward Bill 44 to the full council with a favorable recommendation. The bill would exempt buildings on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands parcels from real property tax while retaining a minimum tax; county staff estimate about $1.44 million in annual revenue loss.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee forwards $270,000 FTA planning grant for Pāhoa transit hub and $1.5M for Kailua-Kona supportive housing

Finance committee backs setting housing-homelessness transfer at no less than $9 million

Committee backs two $50,000 grants to island animal nonprofits amid questions about oversight and grant vs. contract use

Hawaii County committee backs exempting buildings on Hawaiian homelands from property tax