Nishiki on Budget: “I think that no one will die from these severe cuts”

“When I listened today to the different departments and their reasons for restoring funding, their reasons make sense; however in this time of three years of constant cuts, still we see from property taxes and the general fund that it is diminishing,” said councilmember Wayne Nishiki.

“We in Maui County have not laid off one person,” said Nishiki.

Council member Wayne Nishiki. File photo/graphic by Wendy Osher.

“We’ve got to show leadership, we’ve got to show compassion for those that live here and if they are sacrificing, then for me to put my nose up in the air, and not take from what our people in this county here are experiencing, and not take that leadership, and do the same for Maui County, I think would be for me embarrassing,” said Nishiki.

“I want to move on and look at how we are going to deal with the personnel and look at some of the cuts that I think all of us have recommended to you.  I don’t want you as the chair that took the bold step of making this recommendation to take it on the chin.   I think all of us have got to realize that we here in the council… we are here tasked with dictating policy for this county.  I think that no one will die from these severe cuts.  Let’s dig in to feel some of the pain that our fellow brothers and sisters in Maui County in the private industry have felt,” said Nishiki.

(Posted by Wendy Osher)