Grassroot Institute of Hawaii 2025 Honolulu Charter amendment proposal
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The following text was submitted to the 2025 Honolulu Charter Commission for consideration as an amendment to the Honolulu City Charter, with final approval to be determined by popular vote in the 2026 general election. The questions being answered were posed by the Commission.
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What issue or concern are you trying to address?
This proposal would amend the Honolulu City Charter to create a Cost of Government Commission within Article III, Chapter 5 – City Auditor.
The Commission would serve as an independent, citizen-led body charged with studying and investigating the organization and efficiency of all city departments and
agencies, and recommending ways to improve performance, reduce waste and enhance public accountability.
The purpose is to institutionalize a permanent, community-based mechanism for evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency and cost of city government.
The Commission would provide ongoing recommendations to the mayor, City Council and city auditor on improving government operations, eliminating wasteful practices and increasing transparency in how taxpayer funds are used.
Honolulu taxpayers face high costs of living and increasing public expenditures, yet there is limited independent review of how efficiently city departments operate or whether city services deliver sufficient value. The city auditor provides essential oversight, but cannot feasibly cover every department or program annually. …
By contrast, Maui County’s Cost of Government Commission has provided valuable insight and recommendations to streamline government, improve service delivery and identify potential cost savings.
Honolulu lacks a similar structure to sustain ongoing, nonpartisan civic review of its government operations. This amendment would create a Cost of Government Commission modeled after Maui’s, providing a permanent, structured venue for public participation in fiscal accountability.
The Commission would:
>> Conduct annual studies and investigations of city operations, programs and departments.
>> Recommend improvements to promote efficiency, economy and effectiveness in government.
>> Collaborate with the city auditor and report findings publicly to the mayor and City Council.
>> Publish an annual report by March 31 each year summarizing its studies, findings and recommendations.
This Commission would strengthen fiscal transparency, foster civic trust and ensure that Honolulu’s government continually strives for greater accountability and value for taxpayers.
Describe the change you are proposing:
Add Section 6-208 Honolulu Cost of Government Commission —
There shall be a Cost of Government Commission to reduce the cost of city government while maintaining a reasonable level of public services.
The commission shall be attached to the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services and consist of seven members appointed as follows:
>> Three members shall be appointed by the mayor without necessity of council confirmation.
>> Three members shall be appointed by the Council.
>> One member shall be nominated and, upon Council confirmation, appointed by the mayor. The member appointed pursuant to this paragraph shall be the chair of the Commission.
Each member of the commission shall be appointed to a five-year term except that of the initial members appointed by the mayor without Council confirmation, one shall be appointed to a two-year term, one shall be appointed to a three-year term, and one shall be appointed to a four-year term; and of the initial members appointed by the Council, one shall be appointed to a two-year term, one shall be appointed to a three-year term, and one shall be appointed to a four-year term.
The term of each member shall commence on July 1 and expire on June 30 of the applicable years. A member, however, may serve beyond the expiration date until a successor is appointed and qualified. The term of the successor, no matter when appointed, shall commence on the July 1 immediately following the June 30 expiration of the predecessor’s term.
The Commission shall be authorized to review personnel costs and agreements, real property taxes, travel budgets, individual contracts, contract and procurement procedures and other government activities it deems relevant; review with the aim of eliminating programs and services available or more efficiently supplied by other governments or organizations; eliminate or consolidate overlapping or duplicate programs and services; and scrutinize for reduction any county operation.
The Commission shall prepare and advertise a written annual report summarizing its recommendations prior to the end of each calendar year.
The mayor shall, with mayor’s comments thereon and within thirty working
days of receipt, submit to the Xouncil for its immediate consideration all ordinances proposed by the Commission.
The Commission may adopt rules and regulations relating to the operation and management of the Commission in order that the commission can accomplish its goals and objectives.
Except as otherwise provided by this section, the Commission shall be subject to Section 13-103 of this charter.
Explain what you hope this amendment will accomplish:
The purpose is to institutionalize a permanent, community-based mechanism for evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency and cost of city government.
The Commission would provide ongoing recommendations to the mayor, City Council, and city auditor on improving government operations, eliminating wasteful practices and increasing transparency in how taxpayer funds are used.
