What are Charter Amendments all about? Voters to decide on this fund

HONOLULU (KHON2) — In just four weeks, Hawaii residents will not only vote for candidates in a presidential, state and county election. They will also be asked to vote on significant proposals to impact city and state government.

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KHON2 took a closer look at these proposals to help you understand the issues better as you prepare to cast your ballot.

Honolulu charter amendment question number 1 reads as:

Shall the Revised City Charter be amended to require that the City Council appropriate, without having to simultaneously increase real property tax rates to fund the appropriation, one-half of one percent of the City’s estimated real property tax revenues in each fiscal year’s budget and capital program, to be deposited into a Climate Resiliency Fund, the purpose of which is to support initiatives and projects aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change, enhancing the resilience of the City’s infrastructure and communities, and promoting sustainable practices?

Honolulu’s real property tax is the city’s primary source of revenue, funding essential services like infrastructure and public safety.

Under charter amendment number one, voters are being asked to approve .5% of the city’s estimated real property tax revenues to be deposited into a new Climate Resiliency Fund for the purpose of supporting initiatives and projects aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change.

“You can use it for things like flood management or flood mitigation, things like cesspool conversion if the city wanted to do like a conversion program or grant program, and all the other issues that are affecting our community and are only going to get worse as we go into the future,” said Honolulu Councilmember Matt Weyer, who introduced the resolution.

The proposed amendment does not increase real property tax rates, which the council would still be able to do in their capacity at any time. Those opposed to the proposal said it’s not needed.

“My main opposition to this is that every time we create a new fund with a dedicated source of funding from those real property taxes, we reduce the flexibility of the city council to budget in other areas, they keep chipping away from the foundation of our funding,” said Honolulu resident Natalie Iwasa.

The Climate Resiliency Fund would be similar to other special funds like the Clean Water and Natural Land Fund and the Affordable Housing Fund, which takes in about $7 to $8 million dollars a year.

“By putting it into a fund long term as different folks come into the city, we can ensure that what our priorities in terms of making our community safe and preparing for the future that stays consistent,” said Weyer.

Those opposed said it’s money that could be used for other critical services.

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“So we have these funds sitting around, and they can’t be used for anything else, and we have a lot of other needs in the city,” said Iwase.

If approved by voters, the charter amendment would take effect Jan. 1, 2025/

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