Posted on: Friday, May 31, 2002
Maui council approves budget
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
WAILUKU, Maui — The Maui County Council gave final approval yesterday to a fiscal year 2002-03 budget that includes money for additional police officers in growing South Maui, increased transportation services for patients needing dialysis, and matching money for a University of Hawai'i dental clinic for low-income residents.
The $268.8 million budget, adopted by a 8-0 vote, with one member absent, does not include an increase in property taxes, but does boost vehicle-weight taxes, which will raise an extra $1 million in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Council members ignored a last-minute plea from Mayor James "Kimo'' Apana to reconsider more than $4 million in cuts from his budget proposal.
Apana, in a letter sent to the council Wednesday, said he was disappointed that a $1 million revolving loan fund to encourage homeowners to install solar water heating was slashed to $250,000, and that money for a land acquisition fund was reduced from $2 million to $1 million.
He also objected to a move to eliminate $1.5 million for a proposed Central Maui soccer complex and nearly $1 million to buy land for soccer fields at the Lahaina Recreation Center.
Council members explained the budget cuts by saying Apana's administration failed to present adequate plans to indicate it is capable of accomplishing the programs in the next year.
"The nuts and bolts of the programs were missing," Alan Arakawa said. "It's very difficult to support programs that are weak."
Riki Hokama, Budget and Finance Committee chairman, described the budget as a continuation of the council's philosophy of planning for long-range requirements and emergencies.
Money saved from the current year's budget helped pay for $1 million in assistance to residents impacted by the Sept. 11 attacks.
Under county law, the mayor has 20 days to veto the council's version of the budget. The council then would have 10 days to override with a two-thirds majority.
