Kauaʻi County Council Committee Meeting (May 21, 2025): Budget, Tax Rates, and Ordinances Approved\n\nThe Kauaʻi County Council held a combined committee meeting on May 21, 2025, beginning at 8:30 AM. The meeting commenced with a public hearing on the Mayor's Supplemental Budget Communication (C 2025-115), which received no testimony and was adjourned. The Planning Committee then met and approved its previous meeting minutes. The Finance & Economic Development Committee subsequently considered and approved several fiscal year 2025-2026 budget items, including the real property tax rate resolution, the operating and capital improvement budgets (with amendments), and two ordinances concerning electric vehicle chargers and hazard pay. All items passed unanimously.\n\n### Consent Calendar\n- Planning Committee Minutes (May 7, 2025): Motion to approve, seconded, and carried by voice vote without discussion.\n- Finance & Economic Development Committee Minutes (FY 2025-2026 Departmental Budget Reviews): Motion to approve, seconded, and carried by voice vote without discussion.\n\n### Public Comments & Testimony\nNo members of the public provided oral testimony on any agenda item during the public hearing or committee meetings.\n\n### Discussion Items\n- FED 2025-02 – Budget Comparison Document: The committee received a communication from Chair Kaneshiro transmitting proposed increases, deductions, and other amendments to the Mayor's FY 2025-2026 budgets. The item was received without objection.\n- Resolution No. 2025-21 – Real Property Tax Rates for FY2025-2026: The resolution set the property tax rates with no modifications proposed by the Mayor or Council. Council members deferred general budget comments to the May28,2025 Council meeting, as requested by Chair Kaneshiro. The resolution passed on a roll call vote (5-0, with Councilmembers Carvalho, Cowden, Holland, Proposals, and Bulasan voting "aye").\n- Bill No.2949 – FY2025-2026 Operating Budget: The committee approved the operating budget. An amendment was moved and seconded to integrate changes from the Mayor's supplemental budget and Council decision-making. The amendment passed by voice vote. The bill, as amended, passed on a roll call vote (5-0).\n- Bill No.2950 – FY2025-2026 Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Budget: The committee approved the CIP budget. An amendment was similarly moved and seconded to integrate changes. The amendment passed by voice vote. The bill, as amended, passed on a roll call vote (5-0).\n- Bill No.2952 – Use of Public Electric Vehicle Chargers (amending Chapters16 and17): The committee approved the bill without discussion or testimony. It passed on a roll call vote (5-0).\n- Bill No.2953 – SHOPO Temporary Hazard Pay (amending FY2024-2025 Operating Budget): The committee approved the bill to revise amounts in the General Fund for temporary hazard pay for the police union. It passed on a roll call vote (5-0) without discussion.\n\n### Key Outcomes\n- The Planning Committee and Finance & Economic Development Committee approved all agenda items.\n- The real property tax resolution (2025-21) was adopted with no changes.\n- The operating budget (Bill2949) and CIP budget (Bill2950) were each amended to incorporate the Mayor's supplemental budget and Council adjustments, then approved.\n- Two ordinances were advanced: one regulating public EV charger use (Bill2952) and one providing temporary hazard pay for SHOPO (Bill2953).\n- All votes were unanimous (5-0 in each roll call).\n- Budget-related items will proceed to second and final reading at the Council meeting on May28,2025.