This article was published Sept. 5, 2013 on Elle’s Council Connection, Lahaina News.
WAILUKU – The Maui County Council has completed its work and has adopted the Fiscal Year 2014 budget ordinances (which cover July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014). We had a very productive budget session this year and were able to accomplish the daunting task of balancing the wants, needs and requirements of this county with a fiscal plan that benefits our islands in the most suitable manner.
Photo courtesy of Lahaina News: The Maui County Fiscal Year 2014 spending plan includes funding for West Maui Watershed protection.
As was done in years past, I wanted to take this opportunity to apprise you all of some notable appropriations that were set aside for the West Maui community:
NON-PROFITS: Community Work Day Program – Added a provision that will provide $15,000 for expanding waste management services to the West Maui community; Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, for Lahaina Tutoring Project – 3 percent increase totaling $9,476; Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui Inc. for Central, Haiku, Lahaina and Makawao Clubhouses – $852,600.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS: Kahananui Bridge Replacement – $1,200,000, plus an additional $2,400,000 in federal funding.
WATERSHED PROTECTION: Grant for West Maui Watershed Protection – $321,510; New Grant for Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve – $200,000; Lahaina Watershed Flood Control – $1,100,000, plus an additional $5,200,000 in federal funding.
WATER SUPPLY: West Maui Water Distribution System Improvements – $200,000; West Maui Water Source Improvements – $9,000,000.
FIRE DEPARTMENT: Ladder Truck for the Lahaina Fire Station – $1,120,000.
PARKS: Lahaina Recreation Center Ballfield Lights – $365,000; Lahaina Skate Park Bathroom – $250,000; Lahaina Civic Center Improvements – $250,000; Parks repair and painting in West Maui – $250,000.
GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS: Maui Nui Canoe Races, to facilitate and organize the event – $12,000; Lahaina Boat Day – $25,000.
RECYCLED WATER SYSTEMS: Honoapiilani Highway Recycled Water Lateral Installation – $50,000; Kaanapali Resort R-1 Water Distribution System Expansion – $700,000; Kaanapali Wastewater Pump Station Modifications – $1,000,000; Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility Concrete Rehabilitation – $750,000; West Maui Recycled Water System Expansion – $50,000; West Maui Recycled Water System Expansion Phase 1B – $1,160,684, plus an additional $2,339,000 in federal funding; Required Private Contribution (Hyatt) for the West Maui Recycled Water System Expansion Phase 1B – $475,476; Required Private Contribution (Starwood) for West Maui Recycled Water System Expansion Phase 1B – $1,863,840.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Affordable Housing Projects in West Maui – $2,240,419.
LAND ACQUISITION: Grants and Disbursements for Land Acquisition for Launiupoko totaling approximately 186.14 acres in the amount of $13,000,000, of which $6,500,000 is funded through the Open Space Fund, Natural Resources and Scenic Views Preservation Fund.
BUS SHELTERS: Countywide Bus Stop Shelters – $1,000,000.
The mayor’s community budget meetings for Fiscal Year 2015 begin in September 2013, and I strongly encourage the West Maui community to come out and participate in these preliminary planning stages of the County of Maui budget process.
If you have ideas, complaints or requests regarding issues in your community that can be improved by budgetary funding, now is the time to bring them to the forefront, while the mayor’s budget proposal is being developed.
Everyone is welcome to attend the budget meetings. The times and locations of the meetings are as follows:
- Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. at Paia Community Center;
- Thursday, Sept. 12, 5:45 p.m. for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) hearing, then 6 p.m. for the budget meeting at Velma Santos Community Center;
- Monday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. at Lahaina Civic Center;
- Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 5:45 p.m. for the CDBG hearing and 6 p.m. for the budget meeting at Helene Hall;
- Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 5:45 p.m. for the CDBG hearing and 6 p.m. for the budget meeting at Lanai Senior Center;
- Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Hannibal Tavares Community Center; Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m. at Kihei Community Center; and
- Thursday, Oct. 10, at 5:45 p.m. for the CDBG hearing and 6 p.m. for the budget meeting at the Mitchell Pauole Center.
If you have any questions or require further clarification, please feel free to contact my office at 270-5504 or by e-mail at elle.cochran@mauicounty.us.
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