Councilwoman Brenda Ford presents her CIP budget amendments

HILO, Hawaii: A special meeting of the Hawaii County Council was held on Thursday, where the nine local lawmakers approved a $365 million dollar operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year by a vote of 8 to 1.

[MORE VIDEO: Hawaii Council passes $365 million budget, no big changes]

Perhaps the most interest in Thursday’s budget debate centered around amendments to the $172 miilion Capitol Improvement Project budget, which is mostly just a “wish List” maintained for future projects.

Brenda Ford may have pushed hard to include the headline grabbing Palamanui projects in the CIP amendments []… but she also had some plans to improve South Kona.

For example, $237,000 for a Napoopoo Junction Bus Stop-Park-Ride.

Also, Ford proposed to add $300,000 for Napoopoo Park Improvements.

The South Kona councilwoman also brought forward a couple of amendments to set money aside for the fire department’s efforts in the remote villages of Milolii and Kona Paradise. “I’m keeping my commitment to the fire department”, Ford stated.

All her CIP budget amendments were given the OK by fellow councilmembers.