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Mayor Mitch Roth has submitted his proposed $888 million operating budget to the Hawaiʻi County Council for the next fiscal year. The mayor’s budget is up 6.6% from last year. It says $30.5 million of that bump would go to salary increases for employees.
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Hawaiʻi Island Mayor Mitch Roth’s State of the County address highlighted housing and shelter initiatives in the county. HPR's Mark Ladao outlines the key takeaways.
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Back in January, Hawaiʻi Island councilmembers voted 6-to-2 against a measure that would have accepted $1 million in state funding to conduct a study of alternate routes between Puna and Hilo.
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The council this week unanimously voted to move forward with Bill 102, which would ban the selling, offering or advertising of flavored tobacco within the county. One important goal of the bill is to stop stores from selling tobacco to minors.
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Mayor Mitch Roth signed Bill 72 on Monday to amend the county’s Affordable Housing Policy. The changes give housing priority to residents, workers who earn most of their income near an affordable housing project, and returning residents who left the island for school.
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Big Island lawmakers want to beef up the island’s fire department to prevent significant damage from future wildfires. The Hawaiʻi County Council passed a resolution urging Mayor Mitch Roth to increase the capacity of and funding for the Hawaiʻi Fire Department.
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The Hawaiʻi County Council unanimously passed a resolution urging the United States Postal Service to increase infrastructure after long-time community concerns.
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Hawaiʻi County Councilmember Ashley Kierkiewicz has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Nā Leo ʻO Hawaiʻi public television in Hilo.
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It’s been more than a year since the County of Hawaiʻi’s police department took over animal control services on the island. Frequent issues have included staffing and worn-down facilities. HPR’s Sabrina Bodon reports on the renewed efforts for a separate animal control agency.
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Local governments across the country are discussing laws to establish “sensitive places,” where concealed firearms are not allowed. One bill has already passed through the Hawaiʻi County Council, and a similar bill was introduced at the Honolulu City Council.