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HILO >> The Hawaii County Council is planning to cut funding for golf subsidies, emergency spending and land purchases.
The cuts aimed to trim Mayor Billy Kenoi’s $367 million proposed operating budget.
But the council is preserving money for the 128-year-old Hawaii County Band, whose $285,000 budget survived budget reductions.
The council also voted Wednesday to fund insurance coverage for the county’s future retirees.
The council agreed to eliminate a $500,000 subsidy for $25 golf coupons to private courses in West Hawaii, but it kept a $315,000 subsidy for the Hilo Municipal Golf Course, which relies on government money less than other county recreational programs.
The council also moved $2.8 million in anticipated union savings out of a rainy day fund.
