HONOLULU (KHON2) – An award of $ 11 billion, a funds deficit of $ 3 billion, and employees cuts on the Honolulu Authority for Fast Transportation (HART). So why are costly rail lobbyists employed?

At all times Investigating has the story.

HART is searching for each a Washington lobbyist and an area lobbyist. This as HART prepares to launch the board’s agenda paperwork, elevating the worth of the “estimate at completion” by one other $ 1 billion to $ 11 billion.

Heads are turning at HART as new interim CEO Lori Kahikina evaluations all employees and marketing consultant jobs, chopping many positions. The overview and cuts will run till the top of March 2021.

Here is how Kahikina defined the belt tightening to KHON2: “It appears small in comparison with $ 2-3 billion (hole). However we’ve to rationalize ourselves, tighten our belts, as a result of how might I consider asking if it is a metropolis, a state, a federal? It’s taxpayers’ cash. That is all 100% taxpayer {dollars}. “

Two costly tenders – requests for proposals – increase some eyebrows amid the cuts. In HART memos to Honolulu Metropolis Council, the Rail Authority says it might spend greater than one million {dollars} on a hyperlink with the federal authorities, which it has already had, and one other million. {dollars} for an area model. This native hyperlink is a brand new function.

HART’s head of presidency relations and group engagement, former board member Joey Manahan, mentioned HART doubtless will not spend $ 1 million every.

“Let me make clear, the tenders are going to be a complete value for each positions,” Manahan mentioned. “What we’ll be asking the board to approve by means of a reclassification within the present funds is $ 850,000 for these two contract positions, plus an extra $ 200,000 for any extra consulting providers that we might have to rent, for instance. , to create or to rent a particular marketing consultant to create a turnaround plan. “

HART expects the “completion estimate” to probably exceed $ 11 billion – a niche of $ 3 billion – and can formally notify the board of administrators of its tally subsequent week, within the ‘Hope for value financial savings with projecting massive modifications corresponding to streamlining the Dillingham utility transfer and relocating a part of the Mauka Guideway close to Honolulu Group Faculty.

Federal authorities won’t launch one other penny for the grant till an authorized restoration plan is rewritten. One more reason, in accordance with HART, the Federal Liaison Request for Proposals is especially essential

“Below former Director and CEO Andy Robbins, this submit was abolished,” Manahan mentioned, “and due to this fact, sadly – we discover out in our conferences with the congressional delegation and its employees – that the submit was completely essential. for them and helpful and helpful for the venture. “

“I labored with a DC rail lobbyist once I was first elected, and he was glorious,” Honolulu Metropolis Council Chairman Tommy Waters mentioned.

The opposite marketing consultant live performance would deal with state-county relations.

“With regard to the state lobbyist, properly, all of us right here on the council are lobbying on behalf of rail funding within the legislature,” Waters mentioned. “HART ought to actually be doing it itself by means of our new Government Director, it ought to actually be lobbying.”

At all times Investigating requested HART: Why does it want one other extremely paid outdoors marketing consultant to actually speak to individuals throughout the road?

“I simply wish to be clear that this was a board initiative,” Manahan mentioned. “Over the previous yr, sadly, HART didn’t present good solutions to lots of the questions posed, and sadly this strained relations, not solely with metropolis council, however with the legislature of the State. The yr earlier than, when you bear in mind, we went there (state legislature) to ask for an extension, so the council type of predicted that the connection needs to be mended.

“I do not really feel the stress,” Waters mentioned. “I’m completely happy to work with my counterparts within the Legislative Meeting. As a former lawmaker myself, I prefer to assume I’ve an excellent relationship with the individuals there. However once more, it is dependent upon how a lot cash is it going to value and what are we going to spend it on? We’re speaking about one million {dollars}. for me it is approach an excessive amount of cash, approach an excessive amount of cash to compensate for the stress.

A price estimate report utilizing $ 11 billion as a placeholder will go stay on Friday, March 12 for subsequent week’s HART council agenda. Requires tenders have a deadline of Thursday April 1.

Waters says he’ll press HART for solutions when the board involves the board with a float of bonds and their upcoming funds.