Council members press public works on rising water-spigot costs, close file on fund-transfer report

The Hawaii County Committee on Finance spent part of its June meeting probing a recent fund-transfer report after council members raised concerns about increased water-spigot usage and the effect on the flood-control account.

Councilmember Huestis moved to close the file on Communication 23.37, a report of fund transfers authorized May 1–15, 2026. Huestis asked Public Works for detail on how the flood-control account has been used and whether recent transfers reflect routine maintenance or shifting priorities.

Kelsey Kalua Lewis of Public Works said the flood-control account typically pays for clearing flood channels and smaller-scale flood-control projects, and that much of the recent transfer reflected higher utility bills tied to water-spigot sites rather than capital repairs. "We added an additional 64,000 about around there to just kind of cover what we felt was the need, the gap in fiscal '26," Lewis said, and clarified that a heavy portion of that amount covers water utility bills rather than materials or labor for repairs.

Lewis said the most affected sites were in the Puna and Ocean View areas, which saw higher consumption because of dry conditions and increased local use. She described coordination between the Department of Water Supply, Public Works and Parks and Recreation to manage spigot maintenance, routine repairs and billing oversight.

Finance staff said the administration — at the direction of Mayor Alameda and the water department — is reviewing needs and coordinating further to address increasing demand. Finance staff confirmed the county increased the FY27 budget line for water-spigot maintenance after observing FY26 trends.

After discussion, the committee voted to close the file on Communication 23.37. The clerk recorded nine members in favor and none opposed.