HONOLULU -- Next month, the Honolulu City Council will host a national convention budgeted at $1 million in taxpayer money.

The National Association of Counties Convention begins at the Hawaii Convention Center July 15. However, NACO has been controversial from the start, with criticism within some mainland cities that their delegates are traveling to the islands for surf and sun at taxpayer expense.

The Honolulu City Council has hired a mainland person to help raise funds to help offset costs.

Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz confirmed Thursday that the fundraiser has been unable to raise the $350,000 they expected.

"She did raise some monies, but according to her past record and historically, monies have come in in the last month prior to the event. So, we are hoping she is going to be able to bring in some additional dollars in the last four weeks," Dela Cruz said.

The council hired Arizona-based Capital Connection for $75,000. So far, the company has raised only $20,500 in private donations and $2,500 in in-kind donations.

The company did not return phone calls from KITV 4 News for comment.