#budget

A lagging economy will mean a tighter budget and tougher choices for lawmakers as the Legislature opens today.

The $1.56 billion budget, which is $55 million more than Mayor Richard Bissen’s, is up for first reading today.

Maui County has $43.5 million to spend in its Affordable Housing Fund for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The funds would help with planning and construction for new projects and repairs for aging ones.

Maui County is hoping increased rates as high as 25%, along with stricter measures that include limits on when people can water their lawns during a shortage, will curb water usage.

Some property owners are seeing increases by as much as 50%, and even with a tax rate cut, they may still see a higher bill.

Council members say they’ll be combing the budget for savings in case the county is impacted by cuts to federal programs or agencies helping with the Lahaina wildfire recovery.

The land went on the market for $3.5 million last year, but the price recently dropped by $1 million.

The Maui Fair is a beloved local tradition that drew about 90,000 people the last time it was held in 2019.

Maui County does not have water available in West Maui for the Pulelehua project, a long planned development seen as a scarce opportunity to provide desperately needed housing for Lahaina residents displaced by the August wildfires.

Members of the Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee have voted unanimously to extend property tax relief to taxpayers at risk of being priced out of their homes by skyrocketing property values.

Mayor Richard Bissen and Managing Director Josiah Nishita updated Maui County Council members Thursday morning on the status of the county’s request for state funding to help with the staggering costs of rebuilding infrastructure destroyed in the Aug. 8-9 wildfires disaster.

Maui County Council members looked for ways Thursday for developers to move forward with construction of two Lahaina affordable housing projects that residents have pinned hopes on as being “shovel-ready,” but nevertheless face significant obstacles.

The Central Maui Transit Hub is expected to open this month, according to Department of Transportation Director Marc Takamori. The opening will end Maui Bus traffic within the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center.

While thousands of wildfire survivors remain displaced, Maui County Council members heard Tuesday a proposal for the state to purchase the former 216-room Maui Sun Hotel property in central Kīhei and convert it into long-term affordable workforce housing and a public prekindergarten facility.

Maui County’s Department of Finance was under-staffed and ill-prepared to collect transient accommodations tax money beginning in November 2021 when a state law allowing the county to tap millions of visitor-generated revenue went into effect, according to a report by the Office of the County Auditor.

The Maui County Council advanced two affordable housing projects on first reading Friday and referred a third to the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee for further review.

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green announced on Tuesday a “vehicle replacement program,” but neither the rental car companies nor Maui auto dealerships seem to know anything about it.

The Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee will meet Monday at 6 p.m. to discuss and receive input on Bill 49 (2023)—which, if approved, would add a 0.5% surcharge on the 4% state general excise tax.

The Maui County Council will consider the county’s fiscal year 2024 budget on first reading at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

The Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee will receive testimony on the fiscal year 2024 budget on Monday, April 10, at 6 p.m. at Kīhei Community Center’s Main Hall.