Bill DeCosta

Kauai County Council

Position Running For

Kauai County Council

What area(s) of the Island do you call home?

Oma’o

What is your vision for a thriving agricultural sector on Kauai and how can the County support that vision?

Promote the use of ADC state agriculture lands to allow small farmers to grow fruits orchards and vegetable crops and allow ranchers to use these grasslands for livestock grazing which would help with our fire mitigation efforts especially on the west side of our island.

If elected, how would you engage with the business community prior to your decision-making?

Yes

How would you help ensure that working middle class residents can afford to buy or rent a home on Kauaʻi?

Well during my 2022 to 2024 I passed a budget resolution to raise the Hotel and TVR taxes to fund a special account in our county housing department. These funds are earmarked for middle class worker force housing and the purchase of lands from private land owners.

How would you effectively manage budget and operations compared to the past?

I have always been fiscally responsible in carefully reviewing our budget and making the necessary adjustments to make sure our taxpayers money aren’t foolishly wasted. I would like to see more improvements that benefit our quality of life here on Kauai and Ni’ihau.

What specific ideas do you have about economic diversification and how would you develop these areas?

We should be the bread basket for our O’ahu residents growing food, raising meat, eggs, milk, etc. to export even exporting to the US. I would like to see more legitimate agritourism where visitors are immersed in our farms, ranches or agricultural settings that promotes stewardship and a sense of caring for our ‘Aina and its people.

What are your priorities for infrastructure investment? How would you ensure that planned infrastructure projects (roads, wastewater, facilities, bridges, etc.) on Kauai move forward in a timely manner?

We need to move now on infrastructure improvements. Working closely with our State Legislators for funding and promoting partnerships with large landowners to build out our infrastructure projects. Bypass roads, sewer lines, evacuation routes, and some 4 lane roads where necessary.

What is your vision for effective management of the visitor industry so that economic goals are met while ensuring community and environmental concerns are addressed?

We are dependent on tourism but educating them to be culturally sensitive and respectful towards our lifestyle is important. Having short communication public service announcements that educate our tourists, maybe having a short breakfast class at their resort to inform them about being culturally sensitive.

What is your solution to best manage solid waste on Kauaʻi? Please include your views on recycling, landfill site, source reduction, and other strategies.

Japan is a country that deals with their trash in a very responsible manner. We should learn their recycling habits, using trash to create energy and conforming towards taking pride in our own lives at home with recycling. Education and practicing what we believe in at our schools could shape our future generations on how we deal with our trash.

As an elected official, what steps would you take to mitigate the impacts of climate change on Kauaʻi?

Climate change is a global issue, we have very little impact on our efforts

What else would you like to share with the business community?

I am a strong advocate for small smart growth improvements to keep our trades industry working. A healthy economy takes thriving businesses, tourism industry growing and our trades industry busy working. I would like to see a few large Ag subdivisions for middle class work force housing that targets our Firefighters, Police, Nurses, Hotel Workers, Teachers and Construction Workers. My Ag Bill that I passed with Council member Rapozo would give an extra dwelling per home that is designated to the acreage. Meaning double the density which would give owners and opportunity to build a rental unit to help with the mortgage and be a future home for one of their children after returning from college.