Community Budget Meetings Planned in April

Council Chambers, photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

A series of public meetings to gather input on the Fiscal Year 2016 budget is planned in April at various locations across the county.

Budget and Finance Committee Chair Riki Hokama announced the district meetings, saying the public is invited to testify.

The budget review begins after the Mayor submits his proposed version of the budget to the council on March 25, 2015.

The Budget Ordinance is the county’s financial plan for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2015. It determines how much money each department receives to provide services such as fire and police protection, public transportation, water and refuse collection, and how much is collected from the public through taxes and fees.

The first meeting is slated for Thursday, April 2nd at the Kihei Community Center in South Maui and all meetings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., except for the Molokaʻi and the joint Wailuku-Kahului district meetings, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday, April 2, Kīhei Community Center, 303 East Līpoa Street, Kīhei
• Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m., Kaunakakai School, 30 Ailoa Street, Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi
• Thursday, April 9, Haʻikū Park and Community Center, Pilialoha Street, Haʻikū
• Monday, April 13, Hāna Community Center, 5091 Uakea Road, Hāna
• Wednesday, April 15, Lahaina Civic Center, 1840 Honoapiʻilani Hwy., Lahaina
• Friday, April 17, Lānaʻi Senior Center, 309 7th St., Lānaʻi City, Lānaʻi
• Monday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m., Lihikai Elementary School, 335 South Papa Avenue, Kahului
• Wednesday, April 22, Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center, 91 Pukalani Street, Pukalani

Hokama said each testifier will be allowed to speak for three minutes per meeting. If a testifier wishes to submit written testimony, 18 copies are requested.

“It is critical to hear from the public how the council should prioritize taxpayers’ money – it’s their money,” Hokama said in a county press release. “My goal is to come up with a fiscally prudent and balanced budget that will make sure key county services are maintained.”