Council approves City Budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2022
Council approves City Budget
Funding priorities include housing, water sourcing, environment
HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I ̶ Increased affordable housing, transitioning residents out of homelessness, support for finding new sources of clean drinking water, improving public safety, and resources to care for the land, will be funded by the budget that unanimously passed today by the Honolulu City Council with eight members present.
“This budget reflects the needs of our community as so many struggle to live in our island home,” said Tommy Waters, chair and presiding officer of the City Council. “From funding affordable housing to fighting for clean water, the Council stands strong in our commitment toward supporting an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. I am hopeful that this budget will help us to see greater City services to ensure the health and safety of our ‘āina and neighborhoods.”
Highlights from the City Council’s approved amendments:
Over $50 million for building affordable housing and increasing home ownership opportunities for local families
$29 million dedicated to ensuring clean water for O‘ahu residents
Over $23 million to help houseless individuals and families with services for housing, in-patient healthcare and outreach support
$2 million to appropriately house and support those fleeing from domestic violence
$5 million dedicated to reducing unemployment and diversifying the economy by providing job training in industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
$5 million for cesspool conversions in high-risk areas, especially for low-income owners
An often-cited State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) study estimated that O‘ahu will have a shortage of more than 22,000 housing units by 2025. In recent years, the Council’s budget priorities resulted in construction of more than 2,000 affordable units for more than 3,000 homeless kūpuna, as well as youth and low-income families. “Even more of our residents will have a roof over their heads as a result of this budget,” Chair Waters said.
“The Council is required by the City Charter to approve a balanced budget, with real property tax collections as its primary revenue source,” said Councilmember and Budget Committee Chair Calvin Say, who has served the public at the city and state levels for more than 40 years. “My colleagues and I worked hard on the budget this year and had great discussions in Committee.
While this year we had some additional cushion in the form of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, (also referred to as ARPA Funds), I am still very much cognizant of the long-term budgetary challenges the City will face with the much-needed Collective Bargaining increases over the next few years for our hard working City employees. In addition, I believe the City needs to continue to work closely with the State on important issues such as the sun-setting GET to the City for the rail, and unfunded mandates that further stretch our resources on our police force and emergency services. I want to thank my fellow councilmembers, and Mayor Blangiardi and his administration, for working collaboratively on this year’s budget. Thank you also to the public who diligently testified and remained engaged throughout the process.”
The budget takes effect July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year. The budget measures next go to the mayor for signature, for veto, or to allow it to become law without signature.