Trending
All of us are appreciative of the time and energy that our County Council members put into their decision-making on Maui's many issues and concerns. Review of these very important issues and proposals for ordinance that the County Council produces and ratifies often produce profound and impactful changes.
In general, concerning the process Maui County Council takes in this procedure, often the council does not have the true costs to account for the financial and budgetary impacts of the proposed ordinance.
The federal government, as well as most state governments and many municipalities, have a budget office and are required to obtain the best estimate on the cost of the proposed law or change in process and procedure before calling for a vote and ratification of the proposed change.
This proposed estimated cost and time should be part of the due diligence and public notice so that all parties can evaluate what's proposed in its entirety.
There is no doubt that the council members desire to do the best as they see it for the residents and taxpayers of Maui County. In their and our evaluation of their proposals, all aspects and cost benefits should be evaluated before considering inclusion in the code and rules and regulations of Maui County.
A full evaluation from the county budget office should accompany every proposal to effectively evaluate its impact.
Ray Phillips
Kihei