Schedule of Community Budget Meetings Announced

Mayor Alan Arakawa and his administration will host a series of community meetings in September and October to receive comments and suggestions from the public regarding the proposed budget for the Fiscal Year 2019-2020.

Anyone interested in the County budget are encouraged to attend a 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 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 County-related issues. Attendees will be given a form upon arrival at the meeting to determine their needs and which department(s) can address their comments.

The meeting in each community will begin with an overview by Mayor Alan Arakawa and Budget Director Sandy Baz, followed by approximately one hour for attendees to submit comments at the various department tables.

“This is a valuable opportunity for our citizens to have a say in how their taxpayer dollars are spent by the County. Many of the projects and new services that my administration has implemented over the years were a direct result of the input from these community meetings,” Arakawa said. “eSuggestions from the public help us prioritize what is best for our community, and understand how to better serve our residents. Putting together the Maui County budget is a process in which everyone can take part.”

The schedule and location of the Community Budget Meetings are as follows:

Central Maui

Tuesday, Sept. 04, 2018 at 5:30 p.m., Velma Santos (Wailuku) Community Center

East Maui

Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018 at 5:30 p.m., Hāna Community Center

Upcountry:

Monday, Sept. 17, 2018 at 5:30 p.m., Mayor Hannibal Tavares (Pukalani) Community Center, Social Hall

Pāʻia/Haʻikū:

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018 at 5:30 p.m., Haʻikū Community Center

West Maui

Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 at 5:30 p.m., Lāhainā Intermediate School

South Maui

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018 at 5:30 p.m., Kīhei Community Center

Lānaʻi

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 at 4 p.m., Hale Kūpuna O Lāna’i (Hale Mahaolu)

Molokaʻi

Monday, Oct. 18, 2018 at 4 p.m., Mitchell Pauʻole Complex

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

Staff from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) office will also be on-hand to offer information and gather public input on the use of the County’s funds 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.

For information on CDBG, contact the County of Maui CDBG Program Office at 270-7213 or visit the Maui County website.