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Votes at a glance: Major actions by the Hawaii County Council on Jan. 7
Summary
The council approved several resolutions and ordinances on Jan. 7, 2026: adoption of the state fire code (Bill 107), EMS grant appropriation (Bill 108), property‑tax assessment cap changes (Bill 103), and numerous small community grants and program appropriations; key votes and dollar amounts summarized.
HILO — The Hawaii County Council completed a number of formal approvals on Jan. 7, 2026. Key outcomes included adoption of the state fire code, passage of EMS funding for Makalei Fire Station, final approval of a tax assessment cap for certain property uses, and multiple small community grants.
Highlights
- Bill 107 (second/final reading): Adopted county adoption of the state fire code and related administrative procedures. Vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused.
- Bill 108 (second/final reading): Accepted state EMS account grant funding for the county budget, with appropriations to salaries ($749,000), other current expenses ($90,000) and equipment ($911,000) to support ambulance operations and six new positions. Vote: unanimous (9‑0).
- Bill 103 (second/final reading): Amended real property tax rules to apply the homeowner classification 3% annual assessment cap to certain agricultural assessed values under specified conditions (expires Dec. 31, 2029). Vote: unanimous (9‑0).
- Resolution 4‑23‑25: Approved $5,000 for a county volunteer management platform to centralize volunteer opportunities and events. Vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused.
- A series of small grant resolutions (Resolutions 424–444 range) were approved for community festivals, nonprofit programming and park or agricultural programs (typical allocations $2,500–$20,000); most carried with unanimous or near‑unanimous votes.
Procedural notes: Several nominations were confirmed (e.g., Shane Policat Nelson to the Kona CDP Action Committee; Franz Junior Fisher to the Police Commission) and one mayoral nomination was withdrawn due to incorrect district information.
The meeting concluded with announcements about community emergency‑planning meetings and adjournment at 12:35 p.m.
