Victorino Proposes Updated Fee Protection for Upcountry Water Applicants

Council Member Michael Victorino. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

The Maui County Council will hear a proposal that would give partial protection to an estimated 1,250 additional applicants on the Upcountry Water Meter Priority List.

The proposal, introduced by Councilmember Michael Victorino, seeks reduced fees for water meters on up to three lots for applicants added to the list between Nov. 1, 2001 and Oct. 5, 2012.

Victorino, who chairs the Council’s Water Resources Committee, said the legislation is scheduled to be considered on Tuesday, May 28, when the Council takes up first reading of the fiscal year 2014 budget.

Under the proposed legislation, an applicant with appropriate status on the list who receives a 5/8-inch water meter would pay $6,030 instead of $12,060, said Victorino in an announcement.

According to Victorino, water system development fees are set to double under the proposed budget, which takes effect July 1.

“It is only fair that the development fees in effect on Oct. 5, 2012 apply to applicants who were placed on the meter list between Nov. 1, 2001 and Oct. 5, 2012,” said Victorino in a press release announcing the proposed legislation.

“Those applicants have been waiting patiently for water meters and have sacrificed a great deal of time and money. They shouldn’t be penalized because the county wasn’t able to provide an adequate supply of water before the fees rose so significantly,” he said.

According to Victorino, an estimated 250 applicants who were on the list as of Oct. 31, 2001 are already shielded from a fee increase.

***Supporting information courtesy: Councilmember Michael P. Victorino, Chair, Water Resources Committee.