VIDEO: Mayor’s Budget includes $40 M for S. Maui Police Station

By Wendy Osher

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Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa presented his Budget Proposal to the Maui County Council today, one week ahead of schedule.  The FY 2012 budget will be reviewed and revised over the next couple of months as the council fine tunes spending and appropriations.

The proposed budget includes gross revenue of $686.7 million, an increase of $59.9 million or 9.5% compared to FY 2011.  Total county funds for the FY 2012 budget are $632 million, a 20.6% increase from the FY 2011 Budget, which was just over $524.2 million.    The $632 million in projected revenues is expected to provide funding for an operating budget of $475.3 million and a capital program budget of $156.7 million.

“This is not a budget of fluff and extravagance but one of necessity,” Mayor Arakawa said. “We hope that the council will see that when they look it over.  We hope that getting the budget to the council early will help them in their decision making process,” said Mayor Arakawa.

Major projects included in the Capital Improvement Program for FY 2012 include:

• $43.9 million for Water Supply improvements, including source development, storage, and transmission, up from $23 million in FY 2011.
• $19.9 million for road resurfacing and safety improvements, up from $10.1 million in FY 2011.
• $12.4 million for various drainage improvement projects, up from $8 million in Fiscal Year 2011 due partly to the many recent flooding issues.
• $22.7 million for Wastewater improvements, including sewer lines, reclamation facilities, and pump stations.
• $16.2 million for a Countywide Public Safety Radio System Replacement
• $40 million for a new Kihei Police Station with an intergovernmental loan from the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Program.
• $1.5 million for American Disability Act improvements to facilities
• $2.45 million for Solid Waste improvements, including investments to reduce future operating costs.
• $3.9 million for Park facility improvements.

Officials from the Mayor’s office say the budget is based upon improving the infrastructure, putting money into increased employee benefits costs and allowing county departments the flexibility they need to reach their goals.

The Budget was prepared by Director Sandy Baz with the help of staff members May Anne Alibin, Tehani Nunez, Kristina Cabbat and Jennifer Phillips.

*** Please check back with us for video to be posted from today’s budget presentation.