PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT ON EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS
Chair Batangan and Members of the Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee,
My name is Edward Codelia, a resident of Kula, Maui, REALTOR®, small business owner, and survivor of the August 2023 wildfires.
I am opposed to Resolution 26-88 as currently drafted.
The County's experience following the Maui wildfires demonstrated the importance of having emergency response capabilities. It also demonstrated the importance of transparency, oversight, accountability, and public confidence whenever extraordinary spending authority is granted.
This resolution would expand the County's ability to utilize emergency appropriations and access a line of credit while exempting certain emergency funds from existing limitations. While flexibility may be necessary during genuine emergencies, flexibility without strong oversight creates risk.
The public deserves to know not only how emergency funds are spent, but also why they are spent, who authorized the spending, what alternatives were considered, and what measurable outcomes were achieved.
Every emergency power granted today will eventually be exercised by future administrations that may not share the same priorities or standards.
The Charter should not be amended simply to make spending easier. It should be amended only when safeguards are equally strengthened.
Before advancing this measure, I respectfully request answers to the following questions:
What specific problem is this Charter amendment attempting to solve?
Has the County ever been unable to respond to a legitimate emergency because of the current Charter language?
What emergencies prompted this proposal?
What is the maximum line of credit that could be authorized under this amendment?
What safeguards would prevent excessive borrowing?
Would public hearings be required before emergency borrowing occurs?
How quickly would the public be notified of emergency appropriations?
What reporting requirements would apply after emergency funds are spent?
Will independent audits be required for all emergency expenditures?
What lessons learned from the 2023 wildfire response support this proposal?
How much emergency funding has been spent by Maui County since August 2023?
How much of that spending has undergone independent audit review?
What mechanisms exist to prevent misuse of emergency declarations for non-emergency purposes?
How will taxpayers know whether borrowed funds achieved their intended purpose?
Why is additional authority needed before the County provides a complete accounting of prior emergency spending?
The public has witnessed extraordinary emergency spending, emergency procurement, emergency contracts, and emergency powers over the past several years.
Before expanding those authorities further, the County should first demonstrate that existing emergency authorities have been exercised transparently, effectively, and with full accountability to the public.
Maui residents deserve confidence that emergency powers remain temporary, limited, transparent, and subject to meaningful oversight.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Committee to reject Resolution 26-88 or substantially amend it to include mandatory public reporting, independent audits, borrowing limitations, and enhanced Council oversight.
TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO RESOLUTION 26-88
PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT ON EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS
Chair Batangan and Members of the Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee,
My name is Edward Codelia, a resident of Kula, Maui, REALTOR®, small business owner, and survivor of the August 2023 wildfires.
I am opposed to Resolution 26-88 as currently drafted.
The County's experience following the Maui wildfires demonstrated the importance of having emergency response capabilities. It also demonstrated the importance of transparency, oversight, accountability, and public confidence whenever extraordinary spending authority is granted.
This resolution would expand the County's ability to utilize emergency appropriations and access a line of credit while exempting certain emergency funds from existing limitations. While flexibility may be necessary during genuine emergencies, flexibility without strong oversight creates risk.
The public deserves to know not only how emergency funds are spent, but also why they are spent, who authorized the spending, what alternatives were considered, and what measurable outcomes were achieved.
Every emergency power granted today will eventually be exercised by future administrations that may not share the same priorities or standards.
The Charter should not be amended simply to make spending easier. It should be amended only when safeguards are equally strengthened.
Before advancing this measure, I respectfully request answers to the following questions:
What specific problem is this Charter amendment attempting to solve?
Has the County ever been unable to respond to a legitimate emergency because of the current Charter language?
What emergencies prompted this proposal?
What is the maximum line of credit that could be authorized under this amendment?
What safeguards would prevent excessive borrowing?
Would public hearings be required before emergency borrowing occurs?
How quickly would the public be notified of emergency appropriations?
What reporting requirements would apply after emergency funds are spent?
Will independent audits be required for all emergency expenditures?
What lessons learned from the 2023 wildfire response support this proposal?
How much emergency funding has been spent by Maui County since August 2023?
How much of that spending has undergone independent audit review?
What mechanisms exist to prevent misuse of emergency declarations for non-emergency purposes?
How will taxpayers know whether borrowed funds achieved their intended purpose?
Why is additional authority needed before the County provides a complete accounting of prior emergency spending?
The public has witnessed extraordinary emergency spending, emergency procurement, emergency contracts, and emergency powers over the past several years.
Before expanding those authorities further, the County should first demonstrate that existing emergency authorities have been exercised transparently, effectively, and with full accountability to the public.
Maui residents deserve confidence that emergency powers remain temporary, limited, transparent, and subject to meaningful oversight.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Committee to reject Resolution 26-88 or substantially amend it to include mandatory public reporting, independent audits, borrowing limitations, and enhanced Council oversight.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Edward Codelia
Kula, Maui
Resident, REALTOR®