Sewer Service Charges Increase

At a glance

What: Bill 183 (Draft 2) amends Chapter 21 of the County Code to increase wastewater service rates. The hotel service class described in the agenda was removed by the amendments in Comm. 1022.4.
Where it stands: On 2026-11-05 the Policy Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Management forwarded the bill to the full Council with a favorable recommendation, 6-2 (no: Matt Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder and Dennis Onishi; Rebecca Villegas absent). The Environmental Management Commission has not reviewed it because it lacks a quorum; the 45-day review period ends about November 20.
Next: Full Council first reading. Corporation Counsel advised passing it up because committees dissolve at the end of the term.

Reference: Comm. 1022.7; introduced by Council Member Rebecca Villegas by request.
Related communications on the agenda: proposed amendments from Council Members Holeka Goro Inaba and James E. Hustace (Comm. 1022.4, dated 2026-10-05); supplemental information (Comm. 1022.5) and comments and recommendations (Comm. 1022.8, dated 2026-10-28) from the Environmental Management Director.
Department position: Environmental Management Director Daniel Gurbun supports the amended bill and says the division should be self-sustaining; the department projects general fund support of almost $4 million in FY 2026-27, almost $7 million in 2027-28, about $5 million in 2028-29 and a little over $1 million in 2029-30, ending in 2030-31 (Comm. 1022.9, per auto-captions).
Concerns raised: a 1997 license agreement (No. 411) tied to a 1991 homestead sewer arrangement near Hilo (raised by Onishi); one public caller opposed the increase, citing a residential fee rising from $52 to $125.

Bill 183 was the only item. Hotel representatives opposed the new hotel class; the consultant presented a rate study (residential rate from $52 a month to $63 on January 1 and $125 by 2031; wastewater revenue covers about 52% of operating costs). The committee postponed the bill to September 15, with seven ayes and two members excused.

Forwarded to Council with a favorable recommendation, 6-2, on a motion by James E. Hustace seconded by Michelle Galimba. Commission lacked a quorum; Corporation Counsel advised moving it forward; Onishi raised the 1997 homestead license agreement; Gurbun urged action to stop monthly deficits.
Agenda listed the bill with related communications; it had been postponed on 2026-09-01, 2026-09-15 and 2026-10-06.

Bill 183 listed on the committee agenda with a pending motion by James E. Hustace, seconded by Michelle Galimba, to recommend passage on first reading; postponed September 1 and 15. Agenda read from a scanned document; no outcome is recorded.

Bill 183 listed on the committee agenda (postponed September 1, 2026) with a pending motion by James E. Hustace, seconded by Michelle Galimba, to recommend passage on first reading; as listed, it increases wastewater rates and creates a new hotel service class. Agenda read from a scanned document; no outcome is recorded.