Council approves transfers for paving program and Palahi Street bridge upgrade

The Hawaii County Council on Nov. 16 advanced Bill 243 on first reading, approving a transfer of $7 million from fund balance to support roadway maintenance and a downtown bridge rehabilitation project. The measure increases prior-year fund balance by $7 million and directs $3 million to roadside maintenance materials and $4 million to capital projects for the Palahi Street bridge reconstruction and related highway paving work.

Public works director Steve Posey told the council the county historically completed nearly 17 miles of repaving in the previous fiscal year and that the department has set an internal challenge to reach 36 miles in the coming year. Posey described an 18-month reconstruction plan for the Palahi Street bridge, which received a "poor" rating in a 2020 inspection and showed continued corrosion in steel members on a 2022 reinspeciton.

Councilmembers asked how the roadside maintenance funds would be apportioned and whether persistent fund balances indicated a failure to spend down resources. Posey said distributions would follow prior formulas and pointed the council to a DPW website with a district-level paving schedule and GIS mapping of completed and planned work. He said the $3 million would "supplement" the department's capacity and help reach the paving goal; the $4 million funds a bridge project that officials said ranks high on engineering risk lists.

The council approved the bill on first reading by voice vote. Members signaled interest in continued oversight of fund balance levels and in ensuring allocations match priorities. Councilman Connelly Kleinfelder said he would revisit fuel-tax policy if fund balances persist.