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Honolulu council advances FY2026–27 operating budget after marathon testimony on storms, audits and staffing
Summary
The Honolulu City Council passed Bill 22 (the FY2026–27 operating budget) on second reading after hours of testimony on police retention, proposed cuts to economic programs, homeowners-exemption audits, and ongoing storm-recovery costs; the vote was 8–1. The administration said FEMA public-assistance eligibility appears limited to debris-removal and emergency-response categories.
The Honolulu City Council passed the administration’s FY2026–27 operating budget (Bill 22 CD1) on a second-reading roll call after an extensive public hearing in which residents, labor leaders and agency officials pressed the council on storm recovery, audit practices and staffing priorities.
Council members adopted the measure by an 8–1 vote. Chair Tommy Waters called the final tally after roll call: eight ayes and one no. Council members emphasized that passing the budget advances committee work and preserves the council’s ability to refine appropriations before final adoption.
The council heard dozens of testifiers. Jonathan Fry, vice president of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, urged…
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