Kauai County Council to hear budget, firefighter, housing and fee bills

A budget adjustment, a firefighter contract package, a housing-tax rewrite and a DMV fee bill all came before the Kauai County Council in one 8:30 a.m. hearing at the Historic County Building in Līhue, each with a direct effect on what residents pay or how county services are managed.

The hearing at Council Chambers and Meeting Room 106 at 4396 Rice Street followed first reading on April 22, when the council ordered Bills 2993, 2994, 2995 and 2996 to print. Bill 2993 would revise the county operating budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 by increasing general fund amounts tied to general liability and auto claims, along with health fund contributions. In practical terms, that means county finance managers are still adjusting current-year accounts before the fiscal year closes, a move that can shape how much room remains for other services.

Bill 2994 would approve cost items in the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association Bargaining Unit 11 agreement for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029, following an arbitrated award. The Human Resources director already transmitted those cost items for council consideration, and the county’s earlier BU 11 agreement for July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2025 was also approved after an arbitrated award. For households, the bill is less about headlines than payroll: it locks in what the county will spend to keep firefighting staffing and labor costs moving through the budget.

The housing bill reaches more directly into the rental market. Bill 2995 would require a qualifying tenant in a long-term affordable rental to be at least 18 years old and live in the leased dwelling as a primary residence. It would also give the Director of Finance clearer authority to evaluate evidence and require reclassification and reassessment if the tax status is revoked during a tax year. Kauai County says long-term affordable rentals are residences rented for one year or longer at rents that do not exceed HUD-based affordable rates reported by the Kauai Housing Agency, based on 90% of Kauai median household income. Approved multi-year leases can qualify for up to three years. A March 2025 notice said the separate classification was meant to better reflect actual use and improve housing and economic statistics. Grassroot Institute of Hawaii said the proposed rate was $2.59 per $1,000 of assessed value, compared with at least $5.45 per $1,000 for the non-owner-occupied residential class.

Bill 2996 would set road test application fees in the county Division of Motor Vehicles and spell out when those fees can be refunded. Kauai County’s current fee chart lists a $10 road test fee for Class 1, 2 and 3 licenses, and the DMV says applicants must cancel at least 24 hours before an appointment to receive a refund. Road tests are handled at 4444 Rice Street, Suite A480, Līhue, where applicants must bring a valid Hawaii learner’s permit and the required vehicle documents.