COUNCIL QUESTIONS MAYOR’S AUTHORITY TO VETO TO RESTORE THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION

HONOLULU - Mayor Rick Blangiardi today filed his official line-item veto of the Honolulu City Council's fiscal year 2027 budget, a $4.97 billion investment in public safety, disaster preparedness, roads, flood control, parks, ethics oversight, homeless services, and support for kūpuna and keiki across Oʻahu. The Council passed the budget, which includes a $3.193 billion Executive Operating Budget and $1.777 billion Capital Improvement Budget, after a rigorous and transparent review of the mayor's original proposal.

The mayor has publicly characterized his veto as an effort to restore funding to the Office of Economic Revitalization. That attempt raises serious legal questions. Historical interpretations of the line-item veto allow the mayor to reduce or eliminate an item, not create or expand funding that does not currently exist in the budget. Nothing in the City Charter appears to permit the use of the veto power to restore funding for OER after the Council removed it.

The Council's action on OER followed continued discussions about long-standing concerns with the agency, concerns further supported by a city audit, and further underscores the need to examine accountability, program effectiveness, and whether other city, state, or nonprofit programs may be better positioned to deliver these services. This is not about ending economic development. It is about making sure public money goes to services that work and that residents can rely on.

Regardless of the legality of the mayor’s line-item veto authority, the simplest and most cost-effective path forward is for the Council to consider overriding the vetoed items. The Council was prepared to review and act on the veto on June 24, before the new fiscal year begins on July 1. Because the formal veto was not transmitted in time for that meeting, and because the Council must comply with Charter deadlines and the state's Sunshine Law public notice requirements, the public hearing on the vetoed items will now be held on July 8.

"I continue to stand by the work the Council did this year to invest in police and fire, disaster readiness, roads, flood control, parks, ethics oversight, homeless services, and support for kūpuna and keiki across Oʻahu," said Council Chair Tommy Waters. "Our focus is on protecting essential services, maintaining continuity for residents, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and effectively."

###