Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-10

legislature Of 1917 for the construc-
ton of roads in said cit- and county,
il shall be reduced so that such sum
shall be is per cent plus such inter
est and sinking fund requirement.
SECTION 2. Within the city and
county of Honolulu the amount col
iected for the purposes specified in
Subdivision of said Section 1886 OF
the Revised Laws of Hawaii, 1918,
as amended shall be divided as fol-
lows and used only as herein deslg-
mated:
"one-third for requirements and ex.
tensions of the water and sewer sys.
tens, to be available in addition TO
all revenues derived from these utlh-
ties; and for the support of free sewer
and cesspool pumping system and for
improving, operating and maintaining
the HonolulJf sewer works and cess
pool pumping system and payment OF
the interest and sinking fund amount
due the Territory on ieutstanding
bonds of the sewer works department
"One-twelfth for road maintenance,
to be used for this purpose only, and
to be in addition to other special funds
available by law for the same purpose.
"One-half for new road construction
of permanent character such work TO
be either of concrete or on a concrete
base.
S"One-twelfth for permanent improve
ments other than those specifled
above, this fund, however, to be avail
able If desired, either in whole or IN
part for Use in connection with any
one of the funds above designated.
"SECTION 8. Nothing herein shall
operate to prevent the board of super
yisors of said city and county from
appropriating moneys out of any other
fund or funds in the hands of the
treasurer Of such city and county for
the construction, maintenance or re-
pair OF any highways, bridges or storm
drainage systems in said city and
county"
Hamperine The Supervisors
Why hamper CUR seven supervisors
with such intricacies of language?
Should not charter revision begin right
here? In this connection would like
to read to you the list of special funds
as they stand today in the city's treas
ury: !. Permanent improvement fund.
2. Road tax fund. 3. Cash basis fund.
4. Game bird fund. 5. School funds.
6. Honolulu water works. z. Homo
lulu sewer works. 8. Improvement
districts. 9. Special improvements,
cash basis fund. 10. Pension fund,
and finally the general fund. After
Jan /, 1918, when the last statute II
have read becomes operative the per
manent improvement fund will have
to be split into four separate funds. |
The city treasurer writes to me as fol-
lows. ~AH funds except the general
are special. Money may be transferrs
ed from tie general and cash basis
TO any other funds. Money may be
from any of the special
funds for the purposes of the school
fund, and then repaid when money in |
the school fund is available. With this
exception and the cash basis fund, |
with which you are familiar, no money |
in any special fund may be used for |
any purpose except that specified by |
law" This complicated system ad. |
mits of borrowing from certain funds, |
but what man Of us can approve of |
the custom which is so evidently de- !
vised to circumyent the very reason
for special funds The system which |
now exists merits the careful study |
of charter revisers. An abolition of
special funds in the city treasury ere.
ated by territorial statute and not by
ordinance, can bear but one result,
TIE increasing of the responsibility /
upon the board of supervisors Every
such increase of responsibility will I
make far greater efficiency in city
Responsibility Is Lacking
Under the present laws the super
visors do not feel any responsibility
for the tax rate. and why should they?
But they would be made completely
responsible by the simpIifications !
have suggested. There is now no in
centiye for the supervisors to save
public moneys. So far we have denied
them this. The ballot and the tax re-
ceipt should be brought closer to-l
sether. -. ...-...,st
How much has Honolulu grown
since 1904? Will the voters of Homo
lulu give US supervisors who can be
trusted to fix the tax rate and to
spend properly the tax moneys as sug.
eested?
In 1904, the year before county gov
eminent was started on Oahu, the reg