For Immediate Release: March 16, 2015
Press Release by:
Councilmember Riki Hokama, Chair
Budget and Finance Committee
Schedule announced for council budget meetings
WAILUKU, Hawaii—The Budget and Finance Committee will hold evening meetings throughout Maui County next month to receive community input on the Fiscal Year 2016 budget, Committee Chair Riki Hokama announced today.
The meetings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., except for the Molokai and the joint Wailuku-Kahului district meetings, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to testify.
- Thursday, April 2, Kihei Community Center, 303 East Lipoa St., Kihei
- Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m., Kaunakakai School, 30 Ailoa St., Kaunakakai, Molokai
- Thursday, April 9, Haiku Park and Community Center, Pilialoha Street, Haiku
- Monday, April 13, Hana Community Center, 5091 Uakea Rd., Hana
- Wednesday, April 15, Lahaina Civic Center, 1840 Honoapiilani Hwy., Lahaina
- Friday, April 17, Lanai Senior Center, 309 7th St., Lanai City, Lanai
- Monday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m., Lihikai Elementary School, 335 S. Papa Ave., Kahului
- Wednesday, April 22, Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center, 91 Pukalani St., Pukalani
The committee will begin its review of the county’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget after Mayor Alan Arakawa submits his proposed version on March 25. Committee meetings in the Council Chamber will be scheduled throughout the month of April.
Testimony will be accepted at every district meeting and at each committee meeting conducted in the Council Chamber.
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.
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.
“It is critical to hear from the public how the council should prioritize taxpayers’ money – it’s their money,” Hokama said. “My goal is to come up with a fiscally prudent and balanced budget that will make sure key county services are maintained.”
The budget also sets forth the amount of grant money offered to community organizations and establishes funding levels for capital improvement projects, such as road paving, park improvements and water system upgrades.
Written testimonies may also be emailed to bf.committee@mauicounty.us, referencing BF-1.
Visit MauiCounty.us/2016budget for documents, agendas and announcements relating to the budget session. For special accommodations during any of the meetings, please call 270-7838 at least three days in advance.
For the latest news, follow @mauicounty on Twitter.
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