Naeole to tap Geothermal Emergency Funds - Again

[Rob Tucker]

The day after Councilwoman Naeole voted to gut the 2% Land Preservation Fund I find out from her aide. R.J. Hampton. that she is has a proposal to buy and preserve the Steam Vents location near Pahoa.

Worthy idea. Too bad she is on board to strip the Land Preservation Fund of a income for the next few years. But wait! Emily has this figured out it seems. I am told that she wants to tap the Puna Geothermal Emergency Fund Reserves for this land preservation purpose.

You can ask her about this yourself at a meeting on April 13th 7 pm at the Pahoa Community Center.

This is what bothers me about raiding dedicated funds. Once you get a taste of the easy money it's sooooo easy to go back.
Last night in Keaau Mayor Kenoi assured us that he wants to take (divert the next two years income) from the 2% Land Preservation Fund which was put in place by citizen referendum a couple years back. The administration isn't intending to borrow these millions, they want to simply take them. And they want to stop taking them in two years.

Of course Emily Naeole is showing us how hard it is to stop tapping the easy stuff. Was it Emily's previous tapping of the Emergency Fund that gave Mayor Kenoi the idea for taking the 2% Land Fund?

Cause for concern. By all means attend Emily's meeting next Monday.

[Jon]

You know... you need to run for office...

From what I can see and from talking to Councilwoman Naeole she is trying to do the things that the people have asked her to do... and do it in a recession without going into debt or raising taxes... at least give her credit for that.

By the way, we missed you at the Hawaiian Beaches Easter Egg Hunt... []

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I do not believe that America is better than everybody else...
America "IS" everybody else.
HBAT

[Bob Orts]

Rob, you are so right on this. Every government entity is wrestling with budget issues and tapping or not providing revenue to mandated funds is such an easy option.

Unfortunately, as you guess, once they are allowed to steal from the fund, they will return again and again for more. It's not a problem you or I can ever solve because as I wrote to you, they play a masterful game with smoke, mirrors and lies designed to garner public support. What most people don't realize is that these elected officials have essentially dismantled special dedicated funds. And the fact they didn't accept a compromise to repay the funds during the good times shows that they really don’t care what the people wanted.

Just curious, did they propose a cut in their pay and benefits to help out?

[Rob Tucker]

I have heard of no such proposal for pay cuts on the part of council members of the administration. A number of groups are working on these subjects. I just wrote the council to ask:

If we could demonstrate that the budget can be balanced without diverting the Land Preservation Fund would you reconsider your vote?

[Bob Orts]

"Honorable______________
(Mayor) (Council member)
County of Hawaii

I am writing to ask if you will be willing to sponsor a Bill for the reduction of the Mayor, Council members and Department Director’s salaries and benefits. This would send a clear 'Lead by Example' message to all citizens of Hawaii County and demonstrate your willingness to sacrifice like you are asking everyone else to do.

Can I count on your support?"

Anyone else willing to send this email?

[Rob Tucker]

It would be a good letter to the editor at the Trib too.

[james weatherford]

Absolutely THE place to start to address budget problems.
Don't worry with the "benefits"; just a flat across the board reduction for all County elected officials and for appointees co-terminus with the Mayor.
Before I have said 10%.
Maybe it should be 5% or 7% or, even that familiar number, 2%. That can be discussed.

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Jon]

Why only elected officials? Why not all administrative county staff. My guess is they make significantly more than an actual county worker and do very little real work. Cut 2% to 10% off anyone not paid by the hour.


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I do not believe that America is better than everybody else...
America "IS" everybody else.
HBAT

[Rob Tucker]

I attended Emily's meeting. R.J. Hampton, her legislative aide, gave the major presentation on the Steam Vent Proposal. I give R.J. credit for her presentation abilities. The proposal itself is a bit jumbled and consisted of parts preserving a unique natural property and various parts spa and cultural center development. In the end there seemed to be some loose consensus that preserving land and developing visions need to be kept separate. Obviously there is a vision there and in it's own way it conflicts a bit with the purpose of preservation.

I will applaud Emily for the preservation intentions.

I still think, and especially after listening to the proposal, that Geothermal Funds are not appropriate for this project. This acquisition, if it occurs, falls squarely into the Land Preservation Fund category.

The Puna Geothermal Fund has monies for devotedly Puna Community purposes. Developing a steamy tourist mecca is a state or island wide interest and this type of development might in the end be no improvement over what private developers might accomplish.

Very, very difficult to envision the Parks & Recreation Department getting into the wellness business or encouraging people with ailments to share steam booths. One person commented that unless the vents were left au naturale than the endeavor may as well be in Colorado.

Steam Vents is worthy of preservation but I personally think Green Lake a more compelling property for that purpose.

Lastly Emily and staff understand that the Geothermal Emergency Funds are to be maintained at a minimum of $1 million. I have the impression that they think that the $1 million is a useful maximum too and any thing above that amount is fair game. Any earthquake or volcanic activity which would tap this fund is very likely to suck up a million dollars in one quick day. They need to remember that and not look at that fund as contingency funding.