Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters is pushing a new measure that would force city budget officials to say, up front, how much money departments are likely to leave sitting on the sidelines. The proposal, Bill 64, is meant to give councilmembers and the public a clearer picture of carryovers and lapsed appropriations so the city can plan for and reallocate funds sooner. The Budget Committee is scheduled to consider the measure on Tuesday.
What Bill 64 Would Require
Under Bill 64, the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services would have to include projections of the amount of appropriated money likely to lapse when the mayor submits the annual budget, instead of waiting for year-end reports. Proponents say early estimates would let the council spot big carryovers and adjust priorities while the budget is still being put together. As reported by Hawaiʻi Public Radio, Waters introduced the measure and framed it as a transparency and accountability tool.
Waters' Pitch: Move From Reactive To Proactive
Waters has repeatedly pointed to what he calls "staggering" unused appropriations. He told the committee the city lapsed roughly $785 million last year and carried over another $452 million, figures he says add up to about $1.2 billion in unspent funds. "Our goal is simple: to move from reactive budgeting to proactive management," Waters wrote in a statement to the council. He argues that those totals represent taxpayer dollars that could be put to work sooner in areas like public safety and infrastructure. As detailed by Hawaiʻi Public Radio, Waters pointed to the Honolulu Police Department’s patrol division as one example during committee discussion.
Administration Pushes Back
The city’s budget staff has warned the council that trying to predict lapses months before the fiscal year closes could produce misleading estimates and extra administrative work. Budget and Fiscal Services Director Andy Kawano told the committee that projections made in January would still leave five months of activity, including overtime or emergency spending, unaccounted for, which could make early lapse figures unstable. A committee summary on Citizen Portal noted that the administration urged caution and asked for technical refinements to the measure.
Where The Money Matters
Supporters say the reporting requirement would help the council reroute money toward immediate needs instead of letting budgets sit idle. Council discussion has highlighted specific examples: the patrol division of the Honolulu Police Department reportedly let about $15 million lapse in fiscal year 2024, money that some councilmembers say could have gone to cars, equipment or recruitment. The patrol lapse is one reason backers argue that clearer estimates could inform decisions about restoring or repurposing appropriations. The patrol figure was documented in local reporting and budget briefings noted by Officer.
Next Steps
If the Budget Committee reports the bill out, it would move to the full council for a final vote, and supporters already expect technical edits as the administration and council negotiate how to make the estimates as accurate and useful as possible. Public testimony and possible amendments are anticipated during the committee stage, and proponents say that even a modest reporting change could give Honolulu lawmakers better tools to manage carryovers and non-spent appropriations. For background on the council’s timing and prior committee discussion, see Citizen Portal's recap of recent committee meetings.
