Tough times mean more discretion in taking trips

Councilors, mayor say much gained through travels, but some say they will cut back

By ILIMA LOOMIS, Staff Writer
WAILUKU — Maui County Council members spent more than $112,000 on travel in 2007, but some said they plan to cut back now that the county’s facing tougher economic times.

Council members traveled to Honolulu to lobby the Legislature or meet with state officials, attended Mainland seminars or conferences, and flew to remote areas of the county for special hearings. Council members from Molokai, Lanai and Hana also incurred costs commuting from their home districts.

The travel expenses were requested by The Maui News for a report it does each year.

Council Chairman Riki Hokama spent the most on discretionary travel last year, $27,964, including trips to Honolulu to meet with lawmakers, attend Superferry hearings and meet with business and tourism leaders; a trip to San Francisco with county Finance Department officers to meet with bond raters; and six meetings of the National Association of Counties, for which he serves on the board of directors.

Mayor Charmaine Tavares also traveled last year, spending $10,063 to go off-island, including numerous trips to Honolulu for meetings, lobbying, seminars and ceremonial functions, and two Mainland conferences. She said travel for seminars and conferences helped her do a better job, but that she tried to limit her trips.

“When I do travel, it’s got to be for a good reason,” she said.

Tavares said the U.S. Conference of Mayors functions she attended last year were “very worthwhile for Maui County.” The two events, a general meeting and a special conference on climate issues, included sessions on homelessness, renewable energy, recycling and public transit, and offered a chance to meet with federal officials and mayors of small towns.

“I think there were many valuable contacts made there,” Tavares said.

She agreed the county should reduce some travel as it faces budget cuts, but said it would remain important for county officials to leave the island to learn about new ways of addressing local issues.

“I feel the ones who don’t travel are the ones who set us back,” she said.

Tavares was preparing to leave next week for a trip to Japan, where she will meet with tourism officials; tour waste-to-energy plants, recycling facilities and agricultural areas; and participate in ceremonies establishing a sister-city relationship with Fukuyama.

“It’s work,” she said.

Overall, council spending on travel was down about $2,000 from 2006, and some council members said they planned to be more frugal starting this year. The county is expecting nearly flat revenues, and departments have been asked to cut spending.

With airfares rising, Council Member Mike Molina said, he would likely attend only one off-island conference in 2008, after going to three last year.

“I plan on lessening my travel in the future,” he said.

But he added that past conferences have led him to introduce legislation, including a ban on plastic shopping bags now pending before the council.

“I happened to hobnob with some officials who were considering anti-plastic-bag legislation, and I got some ideas,” he said.

Council Member Jo Anne Johnson once again spent the least on travel; she went nowhere in 2007, the same as the year before.

Johnson acknowledged that travel is difficult for her because she is the primary caregiver for her husband, who has Parkinson’s disease. But she also said she has chosen to limit her travel because of the cost to taxpayers and the time it takes away from the council.

“My first responsibility is taking care of business in my own hometown,” she said.

Instead, she said, the county should bring experts to the island, where more people could benefit.

Council Member Gladys Baisa said she tried to keep travel to a minimum in her first year on the council, but that she was glad she attended the National Association of Counties expo in Virginia, where she got ideas about water conservation and recycling.

“I really got a lot out of that trip,” she said. “I’m hoping to be able to go again this year.”

Baisa also attended four seminars in Hawaii.

Council Member Mike Victorino, who attended six conferences last year, including two out-of-state, said he valued meeting with officials from other cities and counties facing similar issues.

“I think it’s well worth it,” he said.

But he also planned to travel less.

“This year I’m cutting it down to three or four,” he said. “I understand these are austere times.”

• Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@mauinews.com.