Mayor hosts community meetings to discuss County’s 2011-2012 Budget

Mayor Charmaine Tavares will host a series of community meetings this September to take public testimony regarding the proposed budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Citizens with an interest in the County budget are encouraged to attend a meeting in their local area and offer testimony as individuals or on behalf of an organization. Both written and verbal testimonies will be accepted.

The budget meetings are designed to provide an opportunity for members of the community to present what is needed for their area. Input from the community meetings will be taken into consideration when the administration constructs the fiscal year 2011-2012 budget.

Mayor Charmaine Tavares. Photo courtesy County of Maui.

“Each year before submitting my Administration’s proposed budget to the County Council, I begin by gathering input from the community,” said Mayor Charmaine Tavares. “This is an important first step and I encourage the public to participate. Their suggestions and concerns are valuable and appreciated.”

The program office of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) will conduct public hearings preceding the Mayor’s budget community meetings in Kahului/Wailuku and Hana, and on Molokai and Lanai. CDBG will gather views and comments from interested persons who wish to participate in the preparation of the County’s proposed Annual Action Plan for the 2011-2012 fiscal year relating to the County’s grant application for approximately $2 million from the U.S. 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 (Public Law 93-383).  CDBG funds received will be utilized for housing and community development needs primarily benefiting low and moderate income persons.

Meeting times and locations are as follows:

Makawao/Pukalani/Kula:
Wednesday, September 8; 6:00 p.m. Budget Meeting; Mayor Hannibal
Tavares Community Center, Pukalani

Kihei/Makena:
Thursday, September 9; 6:00 p.m. Budget Meeting; Kihei Community
Center

Kahului/Wailuku:
Wednesday, September 15; 5:45 p.m. CDBG Public Hearing; 6:00 p.m.
Budget Meeting; Velma McWayne Santos (Wailuku) Community Center

Lahaina:
Thursday, September 16; 6:00 p.m. Budget Meeting; Lahaina Civic Center

Paia/Haiku:
Tuesday, September 21; 6:00 p.m. Budget Meeting; Paia Community Center

Hana:
Wednesday, September 22; 5:15 p.m. CDBG Public Hearing; 5:30 p.m.
Budget Meeting; Helene Hall

Molokai:
Wednesday, September 29; 5:15 p.m. CDBG Public Hearing; 5:30 p.m.
Budget Meeting; Mitchell Pauole Community Center

Lanai:
Friday, October 15; 5:15 p.m. CDBG Public Hearing; 5:30 p.m. Budget
Meeting; ILWU Hall

For more information on the budget meetings, contact the County of Maui Budget Office at 270-7855 or visit www.mauicounty.gov/budget. For information on the CDBG public hearings, contact the County of Maui CDBG Program Office at 270-7213 or visit www.mauicounty.gov/mayor and click on Community Development Block Grant.