BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDS TO FIGHT 'ICE'

Mayor Harry Kim's proposal to create two police "ice teams" to tackle the
island's crystal methamphetamine problem has gained the support of three
East Hawaii lawmakers.

"It looks like a pretty good plan," Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung said. "I
think we should try to beef up police protection. I'm always in favor of
that."

Kim last week asked the County Council to approve the three - member Hilo -
and Kona - based teams as part of a budget that would boost county spending
by $13.3 million for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Though they are still studying the spending request, council members reached
Monday said Kim's approach to reducing the illegal use of crystal
methamphetamine or "ice" has their backing.

"I think the war on drugs is something we need to conduct, especially on
ice," Hilo Councilman James Arakaki said.

Assigning police to deal solely with the drug is a good first step, Puna
Councilman Gary Safarik said, adding it's essential to attack the supply
side of the problem.

Kim is seeking a "conservative" $218.7 million budget that relies on the
county collecting more money from taxpayers to finance the 6.5 percent
spending boost.

Tax hikes approved last year along with new construction are projected to
raise an extra $10.2 million, while the county expects to receive an
additional $893,000 from its share of the state's tax on hotel rooms,
according to Kim's budget message.

"The increase in projected real property tax revenues will enable us to
commit more resources to fight our war on ice," Kim wrote in his spending
package.

Ice use among Hawaii residents is the highest in the nation, and the number
of Big Island arrests for sale of the drug shot up 431 percent between 1997
and 2000, Kim said, quoting police and state Health Department figures.

Police officers now guarding prisoners awaiting their first court appearance
would be reassigned to staff the two ice teams, according to Kim's proposal.

He wants to spend $836,000 to hire private guards for the Hilo cellblock,
which would free up six officers for the ice teams and eight others to
patrol Waimea, Puna and Ka'u.

"I think (more patrol officers are) absolutely essential in those areas,"
Safarik said.

As for other spending increases, Kim said he needs an extra $3.2 million for
employee pensions, $2.4 million for higher landfill and vehicle - disposal
expenses, and $755,000 for computer upgrades.

Kim's budget also includes $1.2 million for employee raises.

The amount is a "really low figure," Finance Director William Takaba said,
noting all employee contracts are up for negotiation.

"There's no formula or anything for that amount," he said when asked how it
was derived.

County workers' past wage increases were examined to come up with a
projection of what future raises might total, he said.

Although no wage hikes have been approved, Arakaki and Chung each said it is
wise for Kim to include the money in his budget proposal.

"I think he's allocating that so he doesn't spend it any other place,"
Arakaki said.

A new position of deputy director for the Environmental Management
Department would be added as part of Kim's request.

Voters in 2000 created the department to handle the county's sewage and
landfill functions that previously came under the Public Works Department.

Safarik called the proposed position an "essential ingredient," while Chung
also said he supports adding $71,928 - a - year job.

"That department is going to turn out to be the hot bed of activity in the
coming months and years," Chung said in reference to the county having to
close the Hilo landfill once it becomes full late next year.