HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL RESPONDS TO MAYOR’S BUDGET AND PREPARES FOR BUDGET BRIEFINGS
HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I – The Honolulu City Council received Mayor Blangiardi’s budget on Friday, March 1, and has begun its review of the City’s proposed operating budget of $3.63 billion and the proposed FY25 Capital Program and Budget (CIP), which is approximately $919 million.
Under Section 3-112 of the Revised Charter of Honolulu, the Council must ensure that the City’s budget is balanced. Now that each department's budget draft has been submitted, the Council will begin a budget review of each of the Blangiardi Administration’s departmental budget requests to get more detailed information and ask clarifying questions about any new requests, vacancies, or variances that are relevant to the budgeting cycle.
“I’m always amazed to see how much work and detail goes into creating the City Administration’s annual proposed budgets, which fuel the work of over 8,500 City employees across O‘ahu,” said Council Chair Tommy Waters. “I’m very appreciative of their effort because as Councilmembers, we have an abiding kuleana to ensure that we are utilizing the resources of this City appropriately, so that we can deliver the highest levels of services to the community. As in past years, the Council will be focused on ensuring that this budget prioritizes, among other things, our long-term need for affordable housing, increased public safety, and measures that address ever-increasing climate impacts to ensure that we continue to mālama i ka ‘āina.”
"I am looking forward to carefully reviewing each department's budget and having an open dialog with our City leaders about their operational needs in the coming year,” said Budget Chair Radiant Cordero. “In light of fixed cost increases, such as employee health care and retirement benefits, and possibly providing hazard pay for those who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic; we must focus on prioritizing the needs of our residents and maintaining our city infrastructure and services, all while maintaining a balanced budget. I encourage the community to tune in during the Budget Briefings and share their manaʻo as the Council discusses and deliberates our City budget for the upcoming year.”
For information on the Budget Briefings schedule for next week, please see below:
MARCH 11 at 9 A.M. HART & Administrative Overview & Capital Improvement Project (CIP) and Operating Budget Review by Department
Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART)
Administrative Overview
Office of the Mayor/Managing Director (Office of Economic Revitalization, Film Office, Culture and Arts, Neighborhood Commission, Office of Housing, Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency)
Department of Budget and Fiscal Services
Emergency Services Department (EMS, Ocean Safety)
Honolulu Police Department
Honolulu Fire Department
MARCH 12 at 9 A.M. CIP and Operating Budget Review by Department
Department of the Medical Examiner
Department of Emergency Management
Department of the Prosecuting Attorney
Department of the Corporation Counsel (Ethics Commission)
Royal Hawaiian Band
Liquor Commission
Department of Transportation Services
Department of Enterprise Services (Auditoriums, Golf Courses, Zoo, Concessions)
Department of Customer Services
Department of Environmental Services
MARCH 13 at 9 A.M. CIP & Operating Budget Review by Department & Legislative
Department of Land Management
Department of Community Services
Department of Parks and Recreation
Department of Planning and Permitting
Department of Information Technology
Department of Facility Maintenance
Department of Design and Construction
Department of Human Resources
Legislative Branch (City Auditor, City Clerk, City Council, Council Services)
MARCH 14 at 9 A.M. CIP and Operating Budget Review (Contingency Day)
Set as a contingency day in the case Committee members have additional requests of any department on particular projects and/or programs.
For additional information on the budget and budget cycle, please visit www.honolulucitycouncil.org/budget. All meeting agendas, live streams, and recordings can be viewed on www.honolulucitycouncil.org. You may also view the hearings live on ‘Olelo Community Media channel 54.
Waters represents City Council District 4, which includes Hawai‘i Kai, Kuli‘ou‘ou, Niu Valley, ‘Āina Haina, Wailupe, Wai‘alae Iki, Kalani Valley, Kāhala, Wilhelmina Rise, Kaimukī, Kapahulu, Diamond Head, and Waikīkī.
Cordero represents City Council District 7, which spans from Kapālama Kai to ʻAiea and includes Kalihi Kai, Kahauiki, Mauliola (Sand Island), Moku Mokauea, Moanalua, Āliapaʻakai (Salt Lake), Māpunapuna, Āhua (Airport), Āliamanu, Kapūkakī (Red Hill), Kapuaikaula (Hickam), Mokuʻumeʻume (Ford Island), Hālawa, Kalauao, and Waimalu Kai.
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