For immediate release: June 23, 2016
Press release by:
Councilmember Riki Hokama, Chair
Budget and Finance Committee
Budget committee to discuss homeless programs, salary increases
WAILUKU, Hawaii – The Budget and Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 28, at 10 a.m. will discuss administration proposals for programs to address homelessness and salary increases, Committee Chair Riki Hokama announced today.
Hokama noted the council has appropriated more than $1 million for homeless programs in the budget for fiscal year 2017, which starts next Friday. In the budget, the council also funded two homeless specialist positions and provided $4 million for social service agencies whose programs benefit the homeless population.
Also on the agenda is administration-submitted legislation to increase the salaries of county employees in bargaining unit 3.
“I look forward to hearing the justification of the proposed salary increases, which should have taken place during contract negotiations,” Hokama said. “More important, the committee will consider how the administration will fund these programs.”
Hokama noted the mayor effectively withdrew the funding requests for the homeless programs and salary adjustments by decertifying the applicable funds. The money was instead used for salaries, premium pay and operations of the Department of Fire and Public Safety.
Tuesday’s meeting is in the Council Chamber. Testimony may be submitted to bf.committee@mauicounty.us, referencing BF-38(26) for the homeless programs budget amendment and BF-38(32) for the BU-03 salary increases. Review the proposed bills in MauiCounty.us/agendas.
For the latest news, follow @mauicounty on Twitter.
# # #
