April 2025 Message from Councilmember Tommy Waters
Welina mai kākou,
In March, Mayor Blangiardi submitted a $5.14 billion budget proposal to the Honolulu City Council to consider. This represents the operational ($3.93 billion) and capital ($1.21 billion) needs of each and every department within the City and County of Honolulu. We are, as always, focused on being fiscally responsible and accountable for delivering a balanced budget, while prioritizing the most impactful investments that will enrich the lives of our residents throughout O‘ahu.
As we enter this budget season, we know how tough it is for families to make ends meet these days, and the Council is committed to implementing thoughtful strategies that expand housing options and access, helping to minimize the ever-increasing costs that are overwhelming our residents and overtaking household budgets, and making our communities and neighborhoods a much safer place to live - and our revisions will reflect this as we search for fiscally responsible budget reductions that we can make right now that don’t hurt our programs or services in the future.
In addition to passing a budget that is sensitive to our residents’ wants and needs, it must also be flexible and resilient to whatever Federal headwinds buffet our island economy, and negatively impact us financially. While we cannot predict with any degree of certainty exactly what cuts will be coming out of Washington D.C. or their impacts to our people and programs, it’s City Leadership’s kuleana to be as prepared for them as we possibly can be.
As we deliberate each department’s proposed budget, with consideration to how they serve and support our districts and neighborhoods across O‘ahu, I encourage you to get involved, to watch the hearings in person or remotely, and to testify in support of the items and funding requests that you are most passionate about. Together, through thoughtful planning and community-centered policies, we are building a more livable, equitable, and secure future for all of us.
- Tommy Waters
If you have a concern you'd like to submit, feel free to contact my office and we'll be happy to assist you.
Email: tommy.waters@honolulu.gov | Main Line: (808) 768-5004
