Fiscal Accountability

"We must be honest, truthful, and accountable for the public’s money."

Mayor Hannemann
State-of-the-City Address
February 2005


ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Earned upgrade of City’s Standard & Poor’s bond rating from AA– to AA
  • Twice received “clean” audit report from independent auditors and earned designation of the City as “low-risk auditee” for first time in 10 years
  • Budgeted $92 million to cover long-term financial obligations to City workforce
  • Halted direct City sponsorship of Sunset on the Beach, and secured private corporate partners to continue the popular event
  • Converted City’s diesel vehicles to biofuels, saving $342,000 a year
  • Improved air-conditioning and lighting at Fasi Municipal Building and police headquarters that will save $500,000 in electricity; new air-conditioner at Blaisdell Arena to save $275,000 a year
  • Set aside $17.5 million in rainy day fund for emergencies, economic crises, and other unforeseen problems
  • Saved $600,000 by eliminating escrow inefficiencies in a bond issue
  • Cut the visioning team program, which once drew $39 million annually from City coffers
  • Cut 18 long-pending construction projects valued at $12.4 million and cancelled 66 consultant contracts worth $6.9 million
  • Cancelled $3.1 million in old purchase orders
  • Saved $2 million in workers compensation costs with improved safety programs and employees returning to work
  • Cut property tax rate for agricultural land to support farming and preserve green, open spaces
  • Successfully negotiated purchase of land under Kulana Nani in Kaneohe, as the first step in preserving these affordable rental units and improving the project’s marketability to private operator
  • Consolidated several, previously separate Chinese New Year celebrations into Month in Chinatown, reducing City costs for cleanup and security
  • Raised rents at the Blaisdell Center to cover operating costs, and sought revenue-generating productions such as multimillion-dollar “The Lion King”
  • Worked to establish Hawaii Council of Mayors, first ever formal organization of all county mayors