Mayor Charmaine Tavares Announces County of Maui Furlough Schedule

The county furlough schedule for the fiscal year that begins next week on July 1st, was released by the Mayor’s office today.

All County of Maui civil service and appointed employees, excluding uniformed Police and Fire employees under separate collective bargaining agreements that do not include furloughs, will be furloughed 12 days between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. The first scheduled furlough day is Friday, July 16, 2010, and includes all managerial staff.

Mayor Tavares said the 6% budget decrease for FY 2011 is a consequence of the downturn in the global economy. The Mayor first announced her 1-day-per-month furlough plan during her budget presentation in March. File photo by Wendy Osher.

The 1-day a month furlough plan was proposed by Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares and approved by the County Council as part of the County’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. Mayor Tavares has also agreed to reduce her pay to the equivalent of 12 furlough days.

The Office of the County Clerk, the Office of Council Services, and the Council district offices in Hana, Lanai, and Molokai will also be closed on scheduled furlough days.

Because the November 5, 2010 council meeting falls on a furlough day, the Council has rescheduled that particular Council meeting to November 9, 2010. No election filing deadlines fall on scheduled furlough days.

The County’s furlough schedule for 2010 (all Fridays) will be: July 16, August 13, September 24, October 8, November 5, and December 10. The remaining days fall in 2011 and include: January 28, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 20, and June 24.

CLOSURES ON SCHEDULED FURLOUGH DAYS:

The following office buildings and/or services will be closed.

● Kalana O Maui and Kalana Pakui Building

● Council district offices in Hana, Lanai, and Molokai

● Old Wailuku Courthouse (offices of the Prosecuting Attorney)

● Real Property/Division of Motor Vehicle & Licensing (DMVL) Service Center in the Maui Mall

● DMVL satellite offices

● All payment windows and counters

● Various administrative offices (including Molokai and Lanai)

● Permit offices

● Senior centers

● Fire Prevention Bureau

The Department of Liquor Control will close on Mondays. Their furlough days will be: IN 2010: July 19, August 23, September 20, October 18, November 15, and December 13. IN 2011: January 24, February 14, March 14, April 25, May 16, and June 20.

There will be NO CHANGES or CLOSURES to the following:

● County facilities during special events that have required permits

● Beach parks including restroom facilities

● Public parks, playgrounds, tennis courts including restroom facilities

● Waiehu Golf Course

● The Maui Bus system

● Play and Learn Sessions (PALS)

● Police, fire, and ocean safety protection

The closure of office buildings, administrative offices, service centers and satellite offices is anticipated to reduce utility expenses and contribute to cost saving efforts.

Previous announcements regarding the closures of County swimming pools (closed on County recognized holidays) and landfills (closed on Sundays) are not associated with the furlough schedule.

The furlough schedule will result in a change to the normal refuse collection schedule for Molokai and Hana customers. On Molokai, regularly scheduled Friday pickups will be made on Wednesdays during weeks containing a furlough day. In Hana, Thursday pickups will be made on Wednesdays during weeks containing a furlough day. Refuse customers in Molokai and Hana were sent notices last month detailing these specific changes.

“In cooperation with the HGEA and UPW unions, we have worked together to find ways to provide continuous services in those areas that impact public health, such as refuse collection and landfill operations, wastewater operations and water treatment plant operations,” said Mayor Charmaine Tavares. “I appreciate the unions’ valuable assistance throughout this process. To the extent possible, the dates chosen as furlough days were designed to take into account the County Council meeting schedule, the State Judiciary’s court calendar, Meals on Wheels delivery schedules and other operational concerns. The State of Hawaii has three different furlough schedules for various parts of their operations, so it was not feasible to attempt to match our schedule to theirs and still meet the needs of our community,” said Tavares.

“Establishing a furlough schedule has been a complex process, and since this type of mandatory furlough program has not been implemented before for County employees, we will be closely monitoring its implementation. I appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation as the furlough schedule takes effect,” Tavares said.

The County continues to work with the Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA) and United Public Workers (UPW) to finalize implementation details and to ensure that our employees’ interests, as well as the public’s interests are taken into consideration.

The public is encouraged to utilize the County’s online services at www.mauicounty.gov to make payments for vehicle registration and water and sewer bills, to access information, and to download forms such as job applications, building permit applications, grant applications, permit applications and inspection request forms.

(Information courtesy: County of Maui)