Maui County budget up for final reading at council
Maui County’s $1.07 billion budget will be up for second and final reading before the Maui County Council at its meeting Tuesday, Council Chairwoman Alice Lee announced.
The Maui County Charter requires the council to take final action on the budget by June 10 each year. So, the council, which normally meets on two Fridays each month, has adjusted its calendar to ensure the deadline is met, Lee said in a news release.
Among other highlights, the budget proposes $5 million to acquire parcels in Kihei containing wetlands for the Kihei Drainage Master Plan and $500,000 to support the Molokai Land Trust’s acquisition of land for wetland protection and restoration, with both appropriations coming from the Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources and Scenic Views Preservation Fund.
Also under the budget proposal, the Affordable Housing Fund would be used to provide $7.5 million for Ka Hale A Ke Ola for permanent supportive housing and $10.65 million for the Waikapu Affordable Housing Development.
The council also has multiple committee meetings coming up next week, including:
• Water and Infrastructure Committee at 1:30 p.m. Monday to receive a presentation on the Kahana Bay Erosion Mitigation Project.
• Housing and Land Use Committee at 9 a.m. Wednesday to discuss a wellhead protection overlay district.
• Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to discuss various litigation matters.
• Efficiency Solutions and Circular Systems Committee at 9 a.m. Thursday to receive a presentation on systematic inequality.
• Agriculture, Diversification, Environment and Public Transportation Committee at 1:30 p.m. Thursday to consider legislation to support agriculture.
• Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee at 9 a.m. Friday to discuss Central Maui wastewater treatment and reclamation facilities as well as a general excise tax surcharge.
In-person, online and phone testimony is taken at all meetings. Testimony instructions, as well as legislation and supporting documents, are available at mauicounty.us/agendas.
For more information, call the Office of Council Services at (808) 270-7838.