County officials: Where’s the stimulus?

WAILUKU - About nine months ago, the Obama administration and Congress agreed to set aside $787 billion in stimulus dollars to help revitalize Main Street America.

On Tuesday, Maui County Managing Director Sheri Morrison compared the glacial and byzantine efforts of 75 federal agencies - most of which never gave out grants before - to release those funds with "a snake trying to swallow a horse."

Morrison was making the analogy to Maui County Council members in order to address concerns about what many perceive as Mayor Charmaine Tavares' inability to maximize the amount of stimulus money the county should have received by now.

Council Chairman Danny Mateo said he sympathizes with county workers who must delve into the complicated process of applying for funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. But where is the money? Where are the jobs? And why is the county so slow to get the money out of its own coffers, Mateo asked.

"We are hearing about all these moneys, but we are not seeing these county projects happening," Mateo said. "I just need to share my frustration, because I don't think we're moving fast enough."

Out of the $1.4 billion set aside for Hawaii, it remains difficult to discern how much of that money Maui County gets, Morrison said. A lot of that money is reimbursed, too, so the county has to come up with the cash on its own and then wait to get paid back by the feds, she said.

Almost a year ago, Tavares' administration prepared a list of more than 80 "ready-to-go" projects estimated to cost $315.4 million that would qualify for stimulus money.

According to information provided Tuesday to the council's Budget and Finance Committee, to date the Tavares administration has applied for 26 projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act valued at $33.4 million - and is confirmed to receive $11.3 million.

The money to date will create the equivalent of about a dozen full-time jobs, Morrison said.

"It doesn't look too favorable at this point," said Council Member Gladys Baisa about the number of jobs and dollar figures.

But that's not the entire picture, Morrison stressed. The administration is constantly applying for more dollars; much of which is still not available because some federal agencies are still drafting rules and procedures for grant gifting, Morrison said.

And the state Department of Transportation controls most of the highway construction funds, and its leadership has decided to focus on using stimulus money for large projects rather than resurfacing roads or fixing bridges, which could create jobs now and is also needed from a public works standpoint, she said.

They'd hoped for the latter, Morrison said. Just about every road in Maui County needs to be resurfaced; that would put a lot of people to work, she said.

Morrison said they've also bumped up against some Beltway gamesmanship. When the county asked for money to install solar-heating units to warm public swimming pools, it was chastised by Washington politicians who called the request "frivolous" and established "The Maui Rule," which precludes any stimulus dollars from going to swimming pools.

"But what they don't understand is that it still costs the public money to heat those pools," Morrison said after the hearing. "We could have changed that."

Less than 1 percent of the stimulus package is flowing directly to cities and counties, something that the U.S. Conference of Mayors is actively lobbying to change, Morrison said. The managing director added that Maui County is benefiting from stimulus money under more general programs, such as extended unemployment checks, Cash for Clunkers and tax credits for housing.

The county has received millions to replace water and sewer lines and pumps; continue the reconstruction of Market Street in Wailuku; buy buses; provide additional dollars to nonprofits, such as the Maui Food Bank and Easter Seals; and hire violence prevention experts.

A $605,000 program will allow Maui County to hire a third full-time energy coordinator and a team that will be able to do energy-efficiency audits of 12 county buildings. The county would then apply for individual grants to make capital improvements, such as installing solar panels and wind generators.

In the long run, the renewable-energy plans could save the county millions annually in electrical and fuel costs, Morrison said.

And the county has taken steps to apply directly to the Federal Highways Administration to acquire funding to resurface miles of roads, according to a spreadsheet provided by Budget Department Director Fred Pablo. The Tavares administration also has a $4.2 million request to replace the Kaholopoo Bridge, although that money would be awarded by the state DOT.

Every stimulus dollar the county gets frees the administration to set aside a dollar for its own capital improvement projects' budget. And there are new federal bonding programs that will essentially allow the county to borrow money through the federal government and other funding sources available that will come on line this fiscal year and the next, Morrison said.

"I understand people are frustrated because the money has been a little slow to arrive," said Council Member Mike Molina. "But we are talking about the federal government."

Morrison said she is not frustrated but instead is hopeful because her staff is learning every day, and progress is being made in terms of better communication with federal agencies and congressional offices.

"It really has made a big difference so far," Morrison said. "And it will only get better."

Committee Chairman Joe Pontanilla said he will convene another meeting to examine the county's receipt of stimulus money at a later date.

* Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com.