Committee actions: communications closed and several budget/housing bills forwarded to council

The Hawaii County Committee on Finance on April 15 took a series of procedural and substantive actions, including closing multiple communications and forwarding budget and housing bills to the full council with favorable recommendations.

Communications closed without substantive debate included routine finance reports and change‑order reports. The clerk recorded the routine votes as follows: Communication 23.1 (port of fund transfers authorized March 2025) — file closed (motion by Councilmember Nava; second by Councilmember Eustace; clerk recorded 8 in favor). Communication 24.7 and 24.8 (reports of change orders authorized February–March 2025 pursuant to Hawaii County Code section 2‑12.3) — files closed after disclosure and brief remarks; the clerk recorded eight ayes on both items. Communication 24.9 (report of change orders authorized March 2025) — file closed; clerk recorded nine ayes. Monthly budget status reports (Communications 73.3 and 73.4) for periods ended Sept. 30, 2024 and Oct./Nov. 2024 were closed by the committee (motions carried; clerk recorded nine ayes on these items).

Major items forwarded to council with a favorable recommendation included:

- Resolution 122‑25: Authorize payment spanning fiscal years and authorize the mayor to enter a multi‑year agreement (three‑year agreement with two renewal options) for island‑wide fixed‑route transit operations (Mass Transit Agency). Motion to forward carried (motion by Councilmember Reyna Nava; second by Councilmember Eustace); clerk recorded nine ayes.

- Bill 41: An amendment to the FY2024–25 operating budget to move home program income repayment funds into the appropriate housing fund account (housekeeping appropriation transfer). Motion to forward carried with no additional appropriation; clerk recorded eight ayes (one member excused).

- Bill 42: An amendment increasing certain federal account interest and appropriating interest to COVID‑era emergency rental assistance and related housing program accounts (includes emergency rent assistance, landlord‑tenant mediation, and homeowner assistance administration). The committee forwarded Bill 42 to council with a favorable recommendation; clerk recorded nine ayes.

Procedural notes: Several of these items were described by finance staff as housekeeping actions or routine reports; items involving federal COVID funding and housing program income were described by Office of Housing and Community Development staff as reallocation tasks that do not create new funding but place funds in the proper accounts for program use.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Communication 23.1 — Close file; 8 ayes. - Communication 24.7 — Close file; 8 ayes. - Communication 24.8 — Close file; 8 ayes. - Communication 24.9 — Close file; 9 ayes. - Communication 73.3 — Close file; 9 ayes. - Communication 73.4 — Close file; 9 ayes. - Resolution 122‑25 — Forward to council with favorable recommendation; 9 ayes. - Bill 41 — Forward to council with favorable recommendation (housekeeping transfer); 8 ayes. - Bill 42 — Forward to council with favorable recommendation (use of federal interest for housing programs); 9 ayes.

All forwarded bills will appear on the committee’s and council’s calendars for final council action.