Transparency became a theme as a result of a story this morning in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser about rail debt exceeding the city’s allowable standard and whether the Honolulu City Council and public had been properly informed.

At Peter Carlisle‘s press conference, reporters asked him about it, because he said in his State of the City address that “honesty, transparency and fiscal responsibility” were among his core values.

He said members of the Council were warned about it during last year’s budget process.

The mayor’s office sent me a statement this afternoon pointing out that there’s already a dedicated funding source for paying off rail’s debt, and that the Council still needs to sign off before any debt can be issued.

They also shared the Oct. 26 memo from Budget Director Mike Hansen to Managing Director Doug Chin that explains the decision to suspend the debt affordability guidelines for “unusual circumstances.”

Kirk Caldwell and Ben Cayetano both brought up the article, saying it shows that Carlisle can’t be trusted. Caldwell’s pro-rail, so he doesn’t object to the financing mechanisms, just the perceived secrecy. Cayetano had bigger problems.

Carlisle can’t have it both ways. If he’s going to promise one thing, then he’s going to need to avoid such stories, even if the idea that we’re going to have more debt than is usually allowed doesn’t seem like a startling revelation.