Council meetings 4x per year in Kona- Resolution 267-09 aims to reduce council meetings in Kona to once every 4 months, because the cost is $7,165.00 each time the council meets in Kona. Introduced by Donald Ikeda. I am assuming that this is the cost of staff and council members' travel and lodging and room rental at the Sheraton. (It would be interesting to hear the exact average expenses). Remember the West Hawaii Civic Center should be completed at the end of 2010, so we will have a place for council meetings, which will reduce the expense of the room rental. At best, this is a stop/gap measure.
If you want to testify in person, the Council meeting is in Hilo still at the Ben Franklin Building or you can testify at the Kona council office and the Waimea office at 9:00 am.
What's really at issue here?
1- If you believe that our elected officials represent us- THE PEOPLE, (and that's how I see the job of a council member), how can Hilo side council members really understand west side problems if they don't come over here?
2- Are we really talking about money? Council meetings are in Kona 12 times per year and Hilo 12 times per year. If each Kona meeting costs $7,165. per meeting, this means the cost to be fairly represented on both sides of the island is a whopping $85,980.00 per year? Is this what equal representation costs? Now we have a price tag on the VALUE of equal representation. Mahalo Mr. Ikeda!!
3- in the county's estimated budget for 2009-2010 the revenues are estimated to be $317,474,000.00 for this year. A mere $85,908.00 is .00027% of the budget revenues. The estimated revenues for next year (2010 to 2100) are estimated to be $328,440,000.00 that is .00026% of the budget. Here is the link to the county's budgets: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/council/fy_budgets.htm.The information on the revenues is on page 22 of the 2009-2010 budgets.
MY OPINION: This is a flat out disrespectful, muscle- flexing, power grab by the Hilo majority, showing little caring for West Hawaii who provides 70% of the property tax revenue for the island
PLEASE email the council and ask to continue meetings in Kona and Hilo equally. Council members do not listen as well when we are on the TV screen as when we can be in the same room and look them in the eye, to testify in person
PLEASE CONSIDER EMAILING THE COUNCIL:
RESPECT YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, CONSTITUENTS AND TAXPAYERS. HOLD EQUAL MEETINGS IN HILO AND KONA.
Cut and paste the following group email to the council and mayor:
Bill 132, Draft 3- The "Transparency" Bill. Bravo to Dominic Yagong for this great bill for our lands!! This bill requires that the Director of Finance submit to the council approval on the lease or sale of any property over 10 acres and over $500,000. The resolution shall also include the bid price or terms of the bid lease, the intended use of the property and the name or names of the prospective buyer or lessee. The County Council must approve this lease or sale information.Testimony on Bills at first reading will be heard at 1:00 Bills for first reading:
The great "gift" of this bill? It gives the public the information and asks for their input on the property that we as taxpayers OWN. It seems simple and fair that this should occur on properties that our elected REPRESENTATIVES are selling or leasing ON OUR BEHALF.
Volunteer opportunity on Thursday, November 19th from 10 to 2:00 at Hale Halawai. Help serve Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless at 11:30 am. Call Josephine Ibarra to volunteer at 935-3050 ext 141
Hawaii State Motto: "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."
Debbie Hecht
Campaign Coordinator 2% for the Land Fund
(808) 989-3222
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