CHAIR’S 3 MINUTES Published in The Maui News, April 2, 2017 By RIKI HOKAMA It is appalling to know that during this legislative session, state lawmakers have supported a measure that would take away the counties’ share of the hotel tax revenue, also known as the transient accommodations tax, or TAT. That flawed bill was […]
Published in The Maui News, September 4, 2016 By MIKE VICTORINO, for The Maui News With more than four months to prepare, county council members throughout Hawaii will make every effort to keep counties’ priorities top of mind during the 2017 state legislative session. The Maui County Council’s Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will consider […]
Published in The Maui News, April 17, 2016 By MIKE WHITE , The Maui News Now is the time for each of us to call and email our state legislators and ask that counties receive a fair share of revenue from the transient accommodations tax. While keeping an ever-increasing portion of the TAT for itself, […]
For immediate release: March 24, 2016 Press release by: Councilmember Riki Hokama, Chair Budget and Finance Committee Fiscal year 2017 budget received, council review begins WAILUKU, Hawaii — The Budget and Finance Committee received the mayor’s proposed fiscal year 2017 budget today and will hold evening meetings throughout Maui County in April to receive community […]
Published in The Maui News, February 21, 2016 By MIKE WHITE , The Maui News On Thursday at 1 p.m., the Special Committee on County Governance will meet for the sixth time to evaluate a possible county manager form of government for the County of Maui. The mayor is currently elected to serve as the […]
Published in The Maui News, January 10, 2016 By MIKE WHITE, for The Maui News The state Legislature last year granted county governments the power to impose a half-percent surcharge on the general excise tax. Mayor Alan Arakawa has submitted a bill to the Maui County Council for the purpose of using this taxing authority, […]
Published in The Maui News, January 3, 2016 By MIKE WHITE, for The Maui News The Maui County Council this week will consider several bills to improve Maui County’s physical infrastructure and, consequently, promote economic development. Bills 89 and 90 (2015) would approve more than $3 million in funding for the Central Maui sewer system […]
Published in The Maui News, December 13, 2015 By MIKE WHITE, for The Maui News Council members from all four Hawaii counties convened at Honolulu City Hall last week, under the auspices of the Hawaii State Association of Counties, to strategize for the state legislative session that begins next month. HSAC’s message for the 2016 […]
Published in The Maui News, November 29, 2015 By MIKE WHITE, for The Maui News During the economic downturn, the state took the counties’ share of the transient accommodations tax, also known as hotel tax or TAT, to balance the state budget. But when the economy improved and the state’s revenues rebounded, they did not […]
Published in The Maui News, May 17, 2015 By Mike White, for The Maui News Prior to the state Legislature adjourning nearly two weeks ago, both the House and Senate passed House Bill 134, a measure that allows counties to enact or extend a general excise tax surcharge for transportation-related costs. The measure, heavily sought […]
