Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 2, 1 ʻAukake 1994 — OHA Board seeks fiscal prudence [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Board seeks fiscal prudence

Sovereignty Oouneil budget is $1.8 million

by Ellen Blomquist The OHA Board of Trustees has authorized a maximum of $900,000 in trust funds to support the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council, formerly the Hawaiian Sovereignty Advisory Commission. Legislative funding was made contingent on the allocation of OHA trust funds. OHA's appropriation will be matched dollar for dollar by state general funds. Of the $900,000 set aside, the board appropriated $547,114.54 for HSEC's budget in FY 95, to be disbursed in quarterly amounts according to the following schedule: — first quarter: $67,206.44 — second quarter: $148,975.11 — third quarter: $149,533.72 — fourth quarter: $ 1 8 1 ,399.27 The amounts vary in accordance with the work plan submitted by

HSEC. Funding is retroactive to July 1 . The appropriation was made with the following provisos: 1. Dispersal of quarterly amounts is contingent on quarterly reports submitted to OHA, verifying completion of tasks set forth in HSEC timeline. 2. Failure to complete tasks in a timely manner will result in the rescinding of approved funding, provided further that, if rescission of approved funding occurs, the remaining proceeds will be equally distributed to OHA trust funds and the state general fund. 3. All equipment remaining after the present eouneil or its predecessor has been repealed shall return to OHA. 4. That an agreement be executed among OHA. HSEC and the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) to

establish a special interest-bearing account in DAGS to receive the money appropriated by OHA and the state, with quarterly reports submitted to OHA by DAGS and all interest accruing on the account to be placed in OHA's trust fund. 5. That the budget and budget worksheet cannot be deviated from without express written approval of the Budget, Finance and Policy Committee and the Board of Trustees. The 15-member Hawaiian Sovereignty Advisory Commission was renamed by the Legislature, and as the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council, is expected to conduct voter registration and sovereignty education programs and to conduct a plebiscite on self-determination. As of this date, the eouneil plans a vote by mail between Sept. 25

and Nov. 5, 1995. Voter registration begins this fall. The eouneil originally submitted a $1.8 million budget for fiseal year 1994-95. After analysis of what budget information was provided to OHA's administration, the budget was refined to make salaries and line items eommensurate with those connected with state and county elections. The eouneil requested 16-40 percent salary increases for their staff. The budget maintained level funding. For example, the executive director will continue to receive a little over $50,000 annual salary this fiscal year instead of the $70,000 requested. In addition, the allocation is for FY95; it is anticipated that the eouneil will return to the Legislature and OHA to request funding for FY96, when the actual vote and tally will occur.

HSEC chairman Sol Kaho'ohaiahala

An OHA administrative analysis also recommended as a way of maximizing available resources the council's indication that it coordinate plans for sovereignty education with OHA and Hui Na'auao.