Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Monday, May 5, 2014
Maui Council Approves Budget with Tax and Fee Cuts
By News Release @ 2:36 PM :: 5517 Views :: Maui County, Taxes

Budget and Finance Committee approves $604 million fiscal year 2015 budget

For Immediate Release: May 3, 2014

Press Release by Councilmember Mike White, Chair, Budget and Finance Committee

WAILUKU, Hawaii – Late Saturday evening, the council’s Budget and Finance Committee voted to approve a $604 million budget for fiscal year 2015 -- $18.5 million lower than the budget proposed by the mayor, announced Maui County Councilmember Mike White, who chairs the committee.

Consistent with White’s proposal, real property tax rates were reduced by 3.1 percent across the board from fiscal year 2014 rates. The move reduced the proposed property tax rates by 9 percent, saving taxpayers $23.4 million, despite a significantly lower gain in transient accommodations taxes than anticipated.

White said the proposal eliminates most expansion positions and exercises the restraint needed to “right-size” government.

“The vote reaffirms the committee’s desire to provide much-needed tax relief and leave more money in the pockets of residents and businesses,” said White. “At the same time, the budget maintains the safety net provided to the public by Maui’s nonprofit partners.”

The committee’s budget includes at least a 3-percent increase for most nonprofits.

The budget also includes initiatives for new job and business creation through a $200,000 appropriation to the Maui Economic Development Board. Other community projects funded in the revised budget include $200,000 for the popular Play and Learn Session (PALS) program, $250,000 to the Boy Scouts of America to finish renovations at Camp Maluhia and $800,000 to complete the Lanai and Molokai community health centers, to name a few.

Residents can also expect reductions in rates and fees, including a return of the 5/8-inch water meter fee to $6,030, pending further deliberations before the council’s Water Resources Committee, and a 20-cent per 1,000-gallon decrease in agricultural water rates for usage above 15,000 gallons and for non-potable water rates. The committee also declined to accept the mayor’s proposed increases in tipping and refuse fees, leaving them at fiscal year 2014 levels.

With policy decisions done, White recessed the meeting to Monday at 10 a.m. to enable the committee to consider any technical corrections that may be needed.

A reconvened public hearing on the real property tax rates is set for May 16, with the budget anticipated to be scheduled for first reading before the council on May 27. Both the hearing and council meeting will be in the Council Chamber.

###

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii