Hawai‘i County Council begins budget discussions for upcoming fiscal year

Hawai‘i County Council began its budget discussions Tuesday for fiscal year 2026-27, with Mayor Kimo Alameda appearing via Zoom from South Korea to provide an overview of the operating and capital budgets.

Alameda’s nearly $1 billion proposed Hawaiʻi County operating budget includes a 1.4% increase of $13.47 million to fund priorities such as public safety, infrastructure and recreation.

Alameda, who is visiting Hawai‘i County’s sister city of Gokseong, told the council that funding public safety departments, such as fire, police, civil defense, the prosecuting attorney’s office and animal control, were his priorities.

Alameda said what pops out “very clearly” is the county’s capital spending on wastewater projects.

After years of deferred maintenance, Hawaiʻi County entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in March of 2024 to bring the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Facility and related infrastructure into compliance.

“These wastewater projects, they were kicked down the road,” Alameda said. “We’re mandated to do this within our administration, within our term and we’re addressing it head-on.”

As a result, Alameda said, it does result in some limitations to county spending.

“In 10 years, we’re looking at about a billion dollars worth of wastewater infrastructure projects,” Alameda said. “So we gotta put that into the mix while also ensuring that our core services and public safety are at the forefront.”

Alameda’s budget also aims to address quality of life for residents around the island by improving parks, gyms, beaches and roads in an equitable way, no matter where people live.

“That’s taking care of our everyday needs,” Alameda said.

The proposed capital budget and 6-year capital improvements program submitted to the council includes 45 projects, requiring a total appropriation of $358.74 million.

During the Tuesday meeting, Alameda announced the recent creation of a public website, which enables anyone to track capital improvement projects within the county and see where those projects are in development.

Alameda previously told Big Island Now that the capital budget is like a wish list, with some of the projects not yet funded.

Some projects Alameda highlighted were upgrading the bathrooms at Honokohau Park, upgrading Pepe‘ekeo Gym, installing lights at Gilbert Kahele Park, installing a comfort station at Kohanaiki Beach Park and tackling park improvements at Isaac Hale Beach Park in Puna.

Hawai‘i County Councilman Matthew Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder said he’s been through three mayors, and in his time he’s pushed projects that went nowhere, including fencing improvements to Shipman Park.

“Within your first year and a half, you actually managed to get small, but necessary improvements done, and you continue to do so, even as you face the upcoming expenditures for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Facility and balancing a budget while being the mayor, while being in Korea,” Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder said.

Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz said she thinks the budget sends the right message to the community, which is “we have to make do with what we’ve got.”

“I think by having a status quo budget, but strategically investing in the right kind of infrastructure and programs, ensures that our folks here at the county can continue to deliver essential services with excellence,” Kierkiewicz said.

During the next budget meeting, on Wednesday, the following departments will present their budgets:

• Police Department
• Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
• Animal Control and Protection Agency
• Hawaiʻi Fire Department
• Office of the Corporation Counsel
• Department of Information Technology
• Department of Liquor Control

Tune in to watch the budget discussions live here.

The Hawai‘i County Council has the final approval over the budget. The body also is responsible for setting tax rates.