County Budget First Reading Now May 26

Maui County Council News Release

To allow for the inclusion of additional funding from the state and federal government, first reading of Maui County’s fiscal year 2021 budget has been moved to May 26, Council Chair Alice L. Lee announced.

The budget was initially set to be heard on May 22, Lee said. The delay will allow the council to consider appropriating more than $66 million from Coronavirus Relief Fund, approved by Congress in the CARES Act, and additional money in transient accommodations tax revenue, she said.

“With the help of our partners at the state Legislature, we will be able to receive and appropriate tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue,” Lee said. “With CARES Act funding and TAT revenue, the county will be in a better position to continue serving the residents of Lanai, Maui and Molokai through the ongoing challenges brought by the COVID-19 emergency.”

The next fiscal year starts on July 1. The CARES Act money may be appropriated immediately through a fiscal year 2020 budget amendment, also considered on May 26, Lee said.

After meeting daily last month, the council’s Economic Development and Budget Committee recommended passage of a $817.6 million budget. Because the county hadn’t yet received assurance from the state, the committee’s proposal didn’t include any TAT revenue.

A revised version of Senate Bill 75 was passed today by the Legislature to authorize Maui, Hawaii and Kauai counties the ability to access funding from the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank.

Lee said the May 26 meeting will be held by video conference at 9 a.m. Second and final reading on the budget is set for June 5, in advance of the June 10 deadline mandated by the County Charter.

Molokai residents can email written testimony to county.clerk@mauicounty.us. For information on providing oral testimony, go to mauicounty.us/agendas.