Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s spokesman, Jesse Broder Van Dyke, said officials are now looking for more money to shore up the books.

No department is safe, he said, meaning police, fire and EMS could all experience belt-tightening in the coming year.

Broder Van Dyke said there are several reasons for the shortfall, starting with the Honolulu City Council’s decision not to pass a $15 million gas tax increase that was part of the mayor’s initial budget proposal.

The council also added about $8 million to the budget when deciding to earmark funds for various nonprofits across the island.

Although Caldwell said he might not release those funds, Broder Van Dyke said the money can’t be shifted for other purposes.

The city is also facing some hefty costs as a result of collective bargaining. The police union’s new collective bargaining agreement will cost the city an additional $200 million over the next four years.

Honolulu’s firefighters are also awaiting a decision on their new collective bargaining agreement.

Broder Van Dyke said city officials will likely have a list of cuts prepared in the next month or so.

Photo: (Courtesy of 401(k)2013 via Flikr)

—Nick Grube