Committee approves closing of fund-transfer file after housing dollars reallocated to wastewater project

The Hawaii County Council Committee on Finance voted Dec. 16 to close its file on a report of fund transfers after housing staff said leftover home-program monies will be repurposed for a wastewater project.

Royce Teroma of the Office of Housing told the committee that one item in the controller's report — “the first amount, which is the 450,000 for the home projects” — and several smaller remaining balances are being consolidated. "All these, along with the other funding ... are all leftover monies that we are combining into 1 project, that we are funding for the, Oli Hikahi wastewater treatment, plant replacement," Teroma said.

Council members had asked whether a line labeled "Habitat for Humanity Affordable Homes for Puna" belonged to housing or public works. Teroma said the entries are from prior CHDO/home-program funding the county recovered and that staff plan to combine the residual amounts for the wastewater-plant replacement.

Council Member Inaba moved, and Council Member Eustace seconded, to close the file on communication 23.25. The clerk recorded eight members in favor; one member was excused. The motion carried.

The item was presented as an informational fund-transfer report from Controller John Arbels; the committee did not take additional action to appropriate new funds in the meeting record. Staff did not provide a full line-item breakdown during the discussion; several smaller dollar figures in the record were not spoken clearly and are recorded as presented in the report.