HILO >> The Hawaii County Council has approved on first reading a bill authorizing $56 million in bonds for capital improvement projects.

However, the bill only lists possible projects for the money. How the money is actually spent would be up to Mayor Billy Kenoi.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald says that led one of the bill’s opponents, Councilman Dominic Yagong, to say Thursday night that the measure is “basically a $56 million blank check.”

Councilwoman Brenda Ford had tried to have the projects that the bonds would fund named in the bill, but county officials opposed her, citing the need for flexibility.

The 13 possible projects include $8.7 million for the Kapiolani Street extension and $8.8 million for the Waiohino Transfer Station.