South Maui Budget Meeting Rescheduled

Mayor Alan Arakawa makes opening remakes at a Community Budget meeting last year. Also pictured, L-R: Budget Director Sandy Baz, Deputy Managing Director David Ching, and Deputy Finance Director Mark Walker. CREDIT: County of Maui / Ryan Piros.

The date for the rescheduled South Maui Budget Meeting is Monday, Oct. 19 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting was originally scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16, but was canceled due to a tsunami advisory that day.

Maui County Budget Director Sandy Baz announced the revised schedule.

Citizens with an interest in the County budget are encouraged to attend a community budget meeting in their local area and offer input, either as individuals or on behalf of an organization.  Both written and verbal comments will be accepted.

Tables will also be set up to allow directors and staff from each County department to meet with members of the public, hear budget-related needs, listen to concerns and answer questions about various County-related issues. Attendees will be given a form upon arrival at the meeting to determine their needs, and which department(s) should address the comments.

The meetings in each community will begin with an overview by Mayor Arakawa and Budget Director Sandy Baz, followed by approximately one hour for attendees to submit comments at the various department tables. To close the evening, the group will be reconvened so that the Mayor and Budget Director can provide a recap of the issues that were raised by attendees.

The remaining community budget meetings scheduled for the upcoming Fiscal year are as follows:

• Pāʻia/Haʻikū:  Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, 5:30 p.m., Haʻikū Community Center
• Upcountry: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015, 5:30 p.m., Mayor Hannibal Tavares (Pukalani) Community Center, Social Hall
• Molokaʻi: Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, 4 p.m., Mitchell Pauole Community Center
• Lānaʻi: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, 4 p.m., Lānaʻi Senior Center
• East Maui: Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, 5:30 p.m., Helene Hall
• South Maui: Monday, Oct. 19, 2015, 5:30 p.m., Kīhei Community Center

For more information on the community meetings, contact the County of Maui Budget Office at (808) 270-7855 or visit the County of Maui website.

Staff from the Community Development Block Grant office will also be on-hand to offer information and gather public input on the use of the County’s funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Community Development Block Grant is a federal program created by Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. CDBG funds received will be utilized for housing and community development needs primarily benefiting low and moderate income individuals.