Wastewater tops Roth’s list of legislative priorities

A measure of privatization or the creation of public-private partnerships to manage sanitation projects is Mayor Mitch Roth’s top priority for the 2022 legislative session that began on Wednesday.

“While there are many areas of interest, particularly around sustainability, we have identified our most significant need in our current sanitation system,” Roth said in a statement Tuesday. “The bill, which calls for public-private partnerships, will be a step in the right direction for us to address and correct these issues if passed.”

The county estimates it needs $1 billion to upgrade its existing sewer facilities and another $1 billion for sump conversion. But because there are only about 15,000 users of the county’s sewer service, the department does not receive enough fees to fund such a conversion.

State Senator Lorraine Inouye, a Democrat representing Northern Hawaii, last year sponsored SB 997, a privatization measure that failed to pass through the committee process after union opposition . The county is working with the state to change the measure in hopes it can pass this year.

Other specific priorities of the bill supported by the administration are legislation regarding abandoned vehicles and dumps.

Other general priorities, in conjunction with the island’s legislative delegation, include sustainability, affordable housing, health and safety programs, agriculture, infrastructure such as roads and bridges, diversification of economic development, tourism management and environmental issues such as climate change and invasive species.

The county hopes to bolster infrastructure with federal funds flowing through the state, as the county’s priorities align closely with those in Gov. David Ige’s proposed budget, Steven Bader, executive assistant to the mayor, told County Council Government. Operations, Relations and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday.

“We’re going to be watching the governor’s budget dollars related to infrastructure upgrades very closely,” Bader said.

The flood of money, coupled with the fact that all legislative seats are up for election this year, should keep things interesting, he said.

“There are going to be a lot of proposed laws for people to take care of their constituents,” Bader said. “I’m looking forward to having a real active session this year.”

Bader said the administration will have a better idea of ​​which bills it will track once the Jan. 26 bill introduction deadline passes. Roth, who is in Washington DC to attend the winter meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors, did not address the council.

The council, meanwhile, passed a resolution on Wednesday setting out these priorities to lobby the federal government: infrastructure funding for county capital improvement projects, direct county access to federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the pending Build Back Better Act and lobbying for funding for dedicated Tribal Nation infrastructure and services to benefit the Native Hawaiian community.