The Maui News

Evening meetings will be held throughout Maui County from March 30 through April 13 to get community input on the fiscal year 2024 budget, which covers July 1 through June 30, 2024.

It will be the first time since the 2019 budget session that the Maui County Council will hold evening budget meetings in its residency areas, an in-person tradition that was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a council news release Tuesday.

“Our goal is to effectively and efficiently use funds in a way that will support our county’s needs and values,” said Maui County Council Vice Chairwoman Yuki Lei Sugimura, who chairs the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee. “Community engagement in budget planning is crucial to ensure economic diversity and sustainability.”

All meetings start at 6 p.m. and will be held on:

• March 30 at the Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall, 1840 Honoapiilani Highway.

• March 31 at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai.

• April 3 at the Paia Community Center Social Hall, 252 Hana Highway.

• April 6 at the Hana High and Elementary School Cafeteria, 4111 Hana Highway.

• April 10 at the Kihei Community Center Main Hall at 303 E. Lipoa St.

• April 12 at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center Social Hall, 91 Pukalani St., Makawao.

• April 13 at the Lanai High and Elementary School Cafeteria, 555 Fraser Ave.

• April 14 in the Council Chamber, 200 S. High St., Wailuku. This will serve as a public hearing for both the Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu and Kahului residency areas.

Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. is scheduled to submit his first proposed budget to the council on Friday, and the budget committee will review and vote on revisions in daytime meetings throughout the next month in the Council Chamber.

Written testimony may be submitted through eComment at mauicounty.us/agendas, and oral testimony will be accepted at all meetings. For more information, visit www.mauicounty.us/bfed/ or contact (808) 270-7838.