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Council accepts FEMA SAFER grant to fund 12 temporary firefighter positions; budget bill advances
Summary
Hawaii County accepted a $2,678,274.60 FEMA SAFER grant to fund 12 temporary firefighter positions and approved a companion budget bill on first reading to appropriate related grant revenue. Councilmembers urged planning for permanence after the grant period.
The Hawaii County Council voted March 18 to accept a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency totaling $2,678,274.60 to fund 12 firefighter positions.
Councilmember Kerkowitz thanked staff and the fire department for securing the federal resources and noted the grant’s benefit: “They will bring additional capacity to all firefighter positions to rural communities that have large wildfire exposure, strengthening response time.” Kerkowitz pressed the administration to plan for what happens after the temporary positions expire, saying, “I hope that the administration can plan to convert these positions from temporary to permanent over the next 3 years.”
The council approved Resolution 478‑26 (motion carried 8 ayes, 1 excused). On the same agenda the council approved Bill 133 at first reading, a budget amendment that increases revenues related to the federal SAFER grant and appropriates about $271,004.47 to fund 12 temporary SAFER‑funded firefighter positions.
The fire chief was present in Kona chambers for questions; no protracted debate followed. Councilmembers emphasized the need to plan for future budgetary implications once federal funding ends.
Next steps: the administration will accept the grant and implement hiring under the grant conditions; the budget amendment will proceed through the council’s legislative schedule for final adoption.
