Committee asks city auditor to review Fire Plans Review Revolving Fund after questions over appropriations process

The Budget Committee on Jan. 10 recommended adoption of Resolution 25-4, which requests the city auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Fire Plans Review Revolving Fund. Councilmember Okimoto introduced the resolution, saying the item grew from prior hearings about fee uses and concerns the fund’s appropriations may operate outside the annual budget process.

Battalion Chief Pao Lehi Huang of the Honolulu Fire Department described the fund’s uses as relating to fire prevention activities: public education, fire investigations, plan checking, permit processing, fire inspections and certifications. Huang said the department supports the audit if the council deems it necessary to better understand the fund’s uses.

Acting City Auditor Troy Shimasaki told the committee his office has capacity and estimated a straightforward audit would take up to about three months from adoption; his office could begin work immediately if the resolution moves forward. Shimasaki also said the city auditor’s office plans a broader review of non‑general funds in the coming months and that this audit could proceed now.

Committee members pressed the fire department on how revolving-fund fees are used. Battalion Chief Huang said the fund has been used to hire administrative staff, code-enforcement inspectors and public information staff that support fire-prevention functions and to hire contractors to speed plan review. He said the department’s tracking shows plan review turnaround for staff typically averaged about a week but that he would provide formal data to the committee.

Huang reported 2024 revenue for the fund as approximately $1,140,947.90. Councilmember Weier noted reservations about stakeholder engagement but did not object; the committee reported the resolution out for adoption.