Committee on Finance Meeting Summary - July 7, 2026
Committee on Finance Meeting Summary - July 7, 2026
The Committee on Finance held its 39th session on July 7, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at the Hawaii County Building, with members participating via remote sites. No public testimony was offered. The committee considered four communications: fund transfers, a donation report, and a bonded indebtedness summary.
Communication 23.37 – Report of Fund Transfers (May 1–15, 2026)
- Councilmember Houstis questioned Kelsey Kalua Lewis of Public Works about a transfer from the flood control account to cover water spigot maintenance costs. Lewis explained increased water usage at the Ocean View and Puna sites due to dry conditions and volcano activity. Councilmember Houstis expressed concern that flood control funds should be used for preventative measures rather than water spigot maintenance. The chair noted increased community demand for water spigots. Diana Nakagawa of Finance confirmed the administration is reviewing water needs.
- Motion to close file passed unanimously (9 in favor).
Communication 23.38 – Report of Fund Transfers (May 16–31, 2026)
- Councilmember Houstis asked Robin Bauman of Environmental Management for a cost breakdown of equipment totaling $864,000: a pre-engineered storage building ($120,000, not yet purchased), a roll-off truck ($350,000), six light towers ($264,000), and an excavator with a hammer ($130,000). Houstis expressed concern that funds should be used for repairs of existing facilities rather than new equipment. Bauman noted the equipment would help with repairs.
- Motion to close file passed 8-1, with Councilmember Houstis voting in opposition.
Communication 27.5 – Report of Donations from Daniel R.R. R. Say Memorial Foundation (as of March 2026)
- Councilmembers expressed gratitude (mahalo) to the foundation and its representative Laura for contributions to the fire department, including helicopters, trucks, and scuba equipment.
- Motion to close file passed 8-0-1 (Councilmember Kagiwada excused).
Communication 938 – Supplemental Summary of Bonded Indebtedness (as of May 7, 2026)
- Finance Director Diane Nakagawa presented the county’s debt summary: total debt outstanding $561 million, net funded debt $534 million. General obligation bonds $501 million. Debt as a percentage of general fund expenditures was 8.84% for issued debt and 14.05% for authorized but unissued debt. Councilmember Galumba asked about projections; Nakagawa stated the percentage is expected to stay below 15% under current projections, and the administration plans to review older authorizations for possible cleanup. Councilmember Houstis advocated preserving the 2020 bond ordinance for alternate emergency roads. Councilmember questioned the process for water supply bonds; Nakagawa explained they are issued by the county and reimbursed by the Department of Water Supply.
- Motion to close file passed unanimously (9 in favor).
Key Outcomes
- Communication 23.37 closed (unanimous).
- Communication 23.38 closed (8-1; Houstis opposed).
- Communication 27.5 closed (8-0-1; Kagiwada excused).
- Communication 938 closed (unanimous).
- The meeting adjourned at 9:38 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the 39th session for the Committee on Finance. It is 7726 today. What a nice number. What a nice day. It's 9 a.m. This is your committee on finance. Today's meeting is being held at the Kawaii County Building at 25L 20 Street. We have members joining us on all sides of the islands, and we have our facilities and our outlying sites open as well to the public. Mr. Clerk. Before we go to Mr. Clerk, to my left, we have Councilmember Kimball. We have Councilmember Kagiwada. Right next to me. Mr. O'Nezi is excused for the time being. Thank you for joining us today. Mr. RSL, do we have any testifiers this morning? Thank you, Chair. I just like to note that we do not have any testifiers either here or at any of your remote sites. Thank you very much, Mr. RSL. Okay, with that, Mr. Clerk, thank you for joining us today. Can we start at the top of our agenda? We have communication 23.37. Last chance if anyone would like to testify in communication 23.37. Please speak up now. Hearing and seeing none. Communication 23.37 report of fund transfers authorized May 1 through 15, 2026 from controller John Arbo's dated May 30, 2026. Chair Motion of Close File and Communication 23.37. Thank you, Mr. Hustis. We have a motion by Councilmember Houstis and a second by Councilmember Cogiwata to close file on communication 23.37. Council members discussion. Councilmember Houston. Thank you, Chair. Just a question for public works, actually. Good morning, Kelsey Kalua Lewis Public Works. Morning Calulos. Just a question on the flood control accounts. What have been some past uses for this particular account? So our flood control account, um, we use it, you know, um to clear the flood channels, areas around the flood channels. Um if we have any flood control, I guess smaller scale projects. Um historically we can use these funds um for that purpose. And you just had a little bit uh of a need in the water spigot maintenance then for this one. Yes, so though the water spigot maintenance, um, you know, we had uncontrollable costs um increase in expenditures um when we looked at our budget. Um flood control, usually what we do at the end of the year is we'll do a chargeback to for all the work that the highway division does. Um so unfortunately we won't be doing as much of the the charge for the charge back this year um due to the water spigot costs.
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