For Immediate Release:
Press Release by:
Yuki Lei K. Sugimura, Chair
Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee
media@mauicounty.us
Evening budget meetings next week on Lānaʻi, Molokai and in West Maui
WAILUKU, Hawaiʻi (April 4, 2025)— Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee Chair Yuki Lei K. Sugimura today reminded Maui County residents that the committee will continue to seek input on the fiscal year 2026 budget with three residency-area meetings next week.
This week, meetings were held in Upcountry Maui and East Maui to receive testimony and discuss the county’s financial plan for the fiscal year that runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The budget determines how county agencies and operations will be funded.
“I want to thank those who came out to our Upcountry and East Maui meetings,” said Sugimura, who serves as the council’s vice-chair and holds the seat for the Upcountry residency area. “We had a great turnout at our residency-area meetings in Pukalani and Hāna, and our hope is to continue to hear the concerns and needs from people across the county.”
Sugimura said testifiers have shared issues that matter most to their communities, everything from wildfire preparedness to road improvements and environmental efforts.
On Tuesday, the committee will meet at ILWU Hall on Lānaʻi.
The West Maui residency-area budget meeting takes place Thursday at Lahaina Civic Center.
On Friday, the meeting will be held at Mitchell Pauʻole Community Center on Molokai.
The following week, the South Maui residency-area meeting will be held at Kīhei Community Center on April 14.
On April 15, the committee will meet at Pāʻia Community Center in the Makawao-Haʻiku-Pāʻia residency area.
The council will hold a public hearing on the budget, which will also serve as the evening budget meetings for the Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū and Kahului residency areas April 17 in the Council Chamber.
All residency-area meetings begin at 6 p.m.
In-person and written testimony will be accepted for all meetings. For special accommodations during any of the meetings, call (808) 270-7664 at least three days in advance.
Sugimura said daytime meetings on the budget will also continue in the Council Chamber next week. The public is welcome to provide testimony during these meetings as well. On Monday, the committee will hear from the Department of Fire and Public Safety and the Department of Planning.
The Maui Emergency Management Agency and Department of ʻŌiwi Resources are scheduled for Tuesday. The Department of Management, including the Office of Recovery, will be up on Wednesday.
The Department of Human Concerns and Department of Housing are scheduled for Thursday. The schedule is subject to change.
Meeting agendas and more information are available at https://www.mauicounty.us/bfed/.
Photo courtesy of Office of Council Services.
