Hokama

WAILUKU – The Maui County Council’s Budget and Finance Committee recently received the mayor’s proposed fiscal year 2018 budget and began its review with committee meetings. Evening district meetings throughout Maui County will also be held to receive community input, said committee Chair Riki Hokama.

The mayor proposed a budget of $795.3 million; notable highlights include a 7.5 percent increase across-the-board for all ten classifications in real property tax rates, closure of the Waiehu Golf Course and various repairs and upgrades to county properties.

Now under council review, it is the committee’s fiduciary duty to determine how each department will be funded in order to carry out its services, the allocation of grant money offered to community organizations for social services and the appropriation of funds for Capital Improvement Projects, such as for county infrastructure and water system upgrades.

The committee will also deliberate on how much it will cost taxpayers to utilize county services and the amount of money to be collected through taxes and fees.

The public is welcome to provide oral or written testimony at any scheduled committee meeting, including Maui evening district meetings at 6 p.m. on April 5 at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center at 91 Pukalani St. in Pukalani; April 6 at Paia Community Center on Hana Highway; April 13 at Helene Hall at 150 Keawa Place in Hana; April 17 at Lahaina Civic Center at 1840 Honoapiilani Highway; and April 18 at the Council Chambers, 200 South High St., eighth floor, Wailuku.

The Maui County Council’s Budget and Finance Committee will hold public hearings at 6 p.m. on April 5 at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center at 91 Pukalani St. in Pukalani; April 6 at Paia Community Center on Hana Highway; April 13 at Helene Hall at 150 Keawa Place in Hana; April 17 at Lahaina Civic Center at 1840 Honoapiilani Highway; and April 18 at the Council Chambers, 200 South High St., eighth floor, Wailuku.

Visit MauiCounty.us/2018budget for meeting schedules, documents, agendas, announcements and other information relating to the budget session. Testimony may be e-mailed to “mailto:bf.committee@mauicounty.us”>bf.committee@mauicounty.us, referencing BF-1.

For special accommodations during any of the meetings, call 270-7838 at least three days in advance.

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