First Reading For Maui County’s FY2021 Budget Moved to May 26

Council Chair Alice Lee. PC: Office of Council Services.

First reading of Maui County’s fiscal year 2021 budget has been moved from Friday, May 22 to Tuesday, May 26.

Council Chair Alice L. Lee, who made the announcement, said it is to allow for inclusion of additional funding from the state and federal government. This includes an estimated $66 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund, approved by Congress in the CARES Act, and additional money in transient accommodations tax revenue.

“With the help of our partners at the state Legislature, we will be able to receive and appropriate tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue,” Lee said. “With CARES Act funding and TAT revenue, the county will be in a better position to continue serving the residents of Lānaʻi, Maui and Molokaʻi through the ongoing challenges brought by the COVID-19 emergency.”

The next fiscal year starts on July 1. The CARES Act money may be appropriated immediately through a fiscal year 2020 budget amendment, also considered on May 26, Lee said.

After meeting daily last month, the council’s Economic Development and Budget Committee recommended passage of an $817.6 million budget. Because the county had not yet received assurance from the state, the committee’s proposal did not include any TAT revenue.

A revised version of Senate Bill 75 was passed on Friday by the Legislature to authorize Maui, Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi counties the ability to access funding from the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank.

Lee said the May 26 meeting will be held by video conference at 9 a.m.

Second and final reading on the budget is set for June 5, in advance of the June 10 deadline mandated by the County Charter.