WAILUKU — The County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee is holding evening meetings throughout the county to receive community input on the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

The budget is the county’s financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year, from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. It determines how each department will use funding to carry out duties and the level and type of rates and fees the county may collect throughout the fiscal year.

“Our goal is to effectively and efficiently use funds in a way that will support our county’s needs and values,” said committee Chair Yuki Lei K. Sugimura.

“Community engagement in budget planning is crucial to ensure economic diversity and sustainability.”

Evening budget meetings in the council’s nine residency areas is a tradition that was suspended because of COVID-19. This year’s residency area meetings will be the first during the budget session since 2019.

The West Maui meeting was held on March 30. The remaining schedule is as follows, with all meetings starting at 6 p.m.:

• April 10, Kihei Community Center Main Hall, 303 E. Lipoa St.;

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

• April 13, Lanai High and Elementary School Cafeteria, 555 Fraser Avenue. Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. submitted his first proposed budget to the council on March 24.

The committee will review and vote on revisions in daytime meetings throughout April in the Council Chamber.

The council will hold both a public hearing and the Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu and Kahului residency area meetings on April 14 at 6 p.m. 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 https://www.mauicounty.us/bfed/or call (808) 270-7838.

Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. presented his proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget to the County Council on March 24. The proposed $1.227 billion budget seeks to address priorities, including water, housing, infrastructure, economic resilience and diversity, and protection of the environment.

To address water needs, the administration will work to identify new catchment sources and storage capacity, as well as look for alternative ways to address the longstanding Upcountry water meter list.

The administration also is prioritizing housing for kama’aina families, support housing for Area Median Income tiers and seek collaborative and innovative opportunities to provide working class families with affordable housing options.

In the proposed $181.4 million Capital Improvement Budget, the largest number of proposed projects are from the Department of Public Works.

The projects include an East Maui Rockfall and Embankment Repair project and a countywide bridge and drainage program.

Other projects include improvements to the Lahaina Civic Center and War Memorial Gym building and an expansion of the Kula Agricultural Park.

The West Maui Community Plan area represents the third largest percentage of this year’s proposed capital budget at $24.2 million, or 13.3 percent.

Some of the major capital projects include: Kaanapali Resort R-1 Water Distribution System Expansion, $8.7 million; Lahaina Civic Center Rehabilitation, $5.4 million; West Maui Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Compliance Sewer, $2.0 million; Napili No. 2 Force Main Replacement, $1.5 million; and Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility R-1 Process Expansion, $1.4 million.

Compared with $152.2 million in bond funding borrowed in Fiscal Year 2023, the Mayor’s Budget Proposal reduces the amount to $65.9 million in Fiscal Year 2024, which means less debt service costs for the county.

The proposal increases the county’s emergency fund by $40 million, up from last year’s $3 million contribution.

“We have sought solutions to improve the lives of our residents, value our islands’ precious resources and demonstrate respect for our culture,” Mayor Bissen said.

“Leading government is about being responsible for the safety and overall well-being of our people. The services we provide, the initiatives we put in place and the budget are critical tools to our most important outcome: the state of our people.”

The proposed budget is available online at www.mauicounty.gov/1896/Budget-Documents- Ordinances. The budget proposal will undergo a review and deliberation by council members, and the spending plan will require approval from the council.