Honolulu Budget Committee Meeting - May 19, 2026: Approves Transfers and Confirms Appointment
Honolulu Budget Committee Meeting - May 19, 2026
The Honolulu City Council Committee on Budget convened on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:04 a.m. to consider ten agenda items, including one appointment confirmation and nine resolutions authorizing fund transfers across multiple city departments. All items were approved or reported out for adoption, with several amended via hand-carried CD1 documents. The meeting addressed funding needs related to increased fuel costs, disaster debris from the March 2026 Kona Low storms, salary adjustments, and operational shortfalls.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public provided oral testimony on any agenda item.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 26-98 (Confirmation of Dr. Peter Young): Dr. Young, reappointed to the Board of Review 3 for real property tax appeals, answered questions from Councilmembers Cordero, Waters, and Kia Aina. He described the appeal process as "fun and festive" and highlighted the need for better taxpayer education (noting only about 50% of appellants watch the instructional video) and more flexibility for late submissions, especially for kupuna (elders). Councilmember Waters agreed to reintroduce legislation providing leeway for late filers. Dr. Young also noted a pattern of out-of-state investors appealing increases in residential A rates. The resolution was amended via CD1 to correct name references and passed.
- Resolution 26-106 (Solid Waste Fund Transfer): Deputy Director Dan Brick of the Department of Environmental Services supported the $1.5 million transfer from salaries to current expenses to cover a portion of disaster debris monitoring and clearing costs from the Kona Low storms. No questions. Amended via CD1 and passed.
- Resolution 26-107 (Energy Cost Transfer): Deputy Director Warren Mamizuka of the Department of Facility Maintenance supported the $1.487 million transfer ($1.257M general fund, $230K highway fund) to cover increased electricity, gas, and fuel costs. No questions. Amended via CD1 and passed.
- Resolution 26-109 (HPD Vehicle Purchase): Acting Chief Rade Vanek and Major Ryan Hiranaka of HPD requested an additional $4,000 (total transfer $1.5M) for a vehicle for community policing in District 8 (Kapolei/Makaha). Councilmember DeSantis Tam questioned fuel type and future cost increases due to switching to non-ethanol fuel, noting a projected 8% increase. The department indicated BFS determines fuel rates. Amended via CD1 and passed.
- Resolution 26-114 (DTS Fuel and Electricity): Director Roger Morton of the Department of Transportation Services requested $1 million transfer to cover fuel and electricity shortages, citing a $1.40 per gallon increase and 5 million gallons annual usage. Councilmember DeSantis Tam noted quarterly costs of about $2 million and asked about future funding; Director Morton did not anticipate service cuts but said additional transfers might occur in Q4 of FY27. Passed without amendment.
- Resolution 26-119 (HPD Salary Deficits): Acting Chief Vanek requested a $5.5 million transfer between activities to cover projected salary deficits due to overtime, retroactive CBA increases, recruitment incentives for communications officers, and unbudgeted events (Kona Low storms, Fiji Tribute concert). The resolution does not increase the overall budget. Amended via CD1 and passed.
- Resolution 26-121 (HFD Transfer): Battalion Chief Craig Souza of the Honolulu Fire Department supported a $585,000 transfer from salaries to current expenses for increased utility, fuel, parts, and Kona Low storm costs. No questions. Amended via CD1 and passed.
- Resolution 26-122 (Salary Adjustments and Vacation Pay): Director Andy Kawano of Budget and Fiscal Services supported a $1.322 million transfer from the provision for salary adjustments to cover accrued vacation payments and anticipated arbitration salary increases for Corporation Counsel, HFD, and Ocean Safety. Councilmember DeSantis Tam clarified it covers FY26 obligations; FY27 budgets already include anticipated increases. Passed without amendment.
- Resolution 26-123 (Emergency Services Fuel): Deputy Director Ian Sante of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department requested a $57,000 transfer to cover increased fuel costs from the Kona Low storms. Councilmember Cordero asked about fueling arrangements; Sante explained they refuel at multiple city departments under a master agreement. Councilmember Kia Aina and Chair Waters discussed overall storm costs ($100M total, $30M operating, $70M CIP) and the need for a recap report. Councilmember DeSantis Tam raised concerns about HPD's FY27 fuel budget not reflecting projected increases; Director Kawano acknowledged potential challenges but hoped provisional funds would suffice. Passed without amendment.
- Resolution 26-124 (Customer Services Transfer): Director Kim Hashiro of the Department of Customer Services requested a $650,000 transfer from salaries to current expenses to cover increased costs for postage, license plates, and driver licensing materials due to higher volume. No questions. Passed without amendment.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 26-98 CD1 (Confirmation of Dr. Peter Young) amended and reported out for adoption.
- Resolution 26-106 CD1 (Solid waste fund transfer) amended and reported out for adoption.
- Resolution 26-107 CD1 (Energy cost transfer) amended and reported out for adoption.
- Resolution 26-109 CD1 (HPD vehicle purchase) amended and reported out for adoption.
- Resolution 26-114 (DTS fuel/electricity) reported out for adoption.
- Resolution 26-119 CD1 (HPD salary deficits) amended and reported out for adoption.
- Resolution 26-121 CD1 (HFD transfer) amended and reported out for adoption.
- Resolution 26-122 (Salary adjustments) reported out for adoption.
- Resolution 26-123 (Emergency Services fuel) reported out for adoption.
- Resolution 26-124 (Customer Services transfer) reported out for adoption.
- Councilmember Cordero welcomed a new intern, Ellie Mizue.
- A full council meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2026, to potentially address any remaining transfers before fiscal year-end.
Meeting Transcript
Aloha and good morning, everyone. It is Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, and the time is ten oh four AM with the committee on budget. Please come to order. Members of the public will be allowed to provide oral testimony on all items on the agenda in two ways. In person in the council chamber and remotely via video conference or phone. Remote and in-person oral testimony will be allowed when each agenda item is taken up. Before testifying, each person shall state their name. As both English and Hawaiian are official languages of the state of Hawaii, pursuant to Article 15, Section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution and Section 1-13 of the Hawaii revised statutes. Members of the public may testify in either language. For oral testimonies offered in Olalo Hawai'i, additional time as may be necessary will be allowed for the testifier to provide an English translation of their testimony. All persons who have registered to testify in person will be called upon first. When your name is called, please come up to the testifier podium. Persons who have not registered will be given an opportunity to testify following the registered testifiers. After in-person testimony has concluded, I will proceed to remote testimony via video conference or phone. When I call your name, please monitor. Please monitor your screen and follow the prompt to unmute. For those who are joining us by telephone only, please press star nine if you wish to testify, and I will identify you by the last three digits of your phone number. When your number is called, please listen for the prompt to unmute and press star six. Some friendly reminders and tips. Video conference from a quiet location if possible. If you're also watching the proceedings on Olelo, please mute your television at the time you're called to testify. When the timer on screen reaches zero, please conclude your remarks promptly. Written testimonies, including the testifier's address, email address, and phone number will be available to the public as described on the posted agenda. As a courtesy, please turn off or silence all cell phones for the duration of this meeting. Agenda item number one for action. Resolution 2698 confirms the appointment of Dr. Peter Young to serve on the Board of Review 3 for real property tax appeals of the city and county of Honolulu for a term to expire on June 30, 2031. Members, we have distributed a hand carry proposed CD1 OCS 2026-0334 slash 5 slash 18 slash 2026 at 1107 a.m. Submitted by myself. The CD1 makes the following amendments. A amends the title of the resolution to read confirming the appointment of Peter Young to serve on the Board of Review 3 for real property tax appeals of the city and county of Honolulu. B, throughout the resolution corrects references to the appointee's name in accordance with the mayor's message 70 2026. C makes miscellaneous technical and non-substantive amendments before we call up the administration. And before actually, I'll take testimony first and then I'll then I'll um come to you, Mr. Young, if that's okay. Members, we will proceed first with in-person oral testimony in the council chamber. Clerks, do we have any in-person testifiers for this item? Chair there and then. Thank you. Proceeding now with remote testimony, clerks. Do we have any remote testifiers for this item? Chair there and then. Thank you. Now I would like to welcome with us joining us today is Mr. Peter Young. Aloha, good morning, Mr. Young. Aloha. If you could just state your name for the record, and if you want to share anything with the members, you're free to do so at this time. Thank you.
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