Ethics Commission staff tell Honolulu City Council staffing and vacancy shortfalls slow responses

Honolulu City Council members pressed the Ethics Commission on staffing levels, vacancy funding and outreach during a budget review. The commission’s presenter said the line item under discussion "represents what is in the executive budget" and that bargaining‑unit pay increases and a vacancy cutback are reflected in the current figures.

Councilmember Waters told the presenter that when employees leave, departments must absorb retirement and vacation payouts within base budgets and that the cost pressure affects many departments. "It's not just your department... I think it's every single department," Councilmember Waters said, and noted a departmental example with about 240 vacancies.

The presenter replied that some positions have been vacant for roughly two months and that the office currently does not have money to cover vacation payouts or to hire for those openings. The presenter said roughly "95% of this" appropriation is salaries and that the remainder covers equipment; outreach and training work is carried out by existing staff (attorneys, law clerks and training specialists) whose time is difficult to separate from salary lines.

Councilmember Cordero praised the commission for becoming more approachable and asked how much of the budget is dedicated to outreach and public education. "I follow the X or Twitter — the ethics information — and that's such a huge difference," Cordero said. The presenter said outreach is a major part of day‑to‑day work but added that staffing constraints mean additional associate‑attorney or paralegal positions would allow the office to respond faster.

Chair Okimoto thanked the commission and asked about ADA web compliance. The presenter said the office ensures its outreach materials are ADA‑compliant, posts administrative advisory opinions and makes brochures and training videos available on the commission’s page because their decisions are not published in commercial legal databases.

Councilmember Waters suggested bringing Director Kawano back to discuss targeted funding for vacation payouts in smaller departments so units can cover the costs of retirements and planned departures. Chair Okimoto reminded members to send any supplementary questions to the chair’s office for compilation and follow up. The meeting was then adjourned.