As a prelude to the trainwreck that will be Maui County’s 2018 Budget Hearings, starting tomorrow, the County has created a survey so you can express your opinions on spending.
CLICK HERE TO VOICE WHERE YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR TAX DOLLARS SPENT IN 2018’s BUDGET.
They even made a video!
The survey is a pretty crude approach; on several broad categories you get to choose to keep current spending, increase or decrease by 5%. The fun part is that you have to jigger your choices till you come in at a balanced budget. You want this? Then that has to go! You do come away with some sense of the balancing act the budget must go through, but the real process is much more nuanced than this.
They also want your opinion on a few specific projects:
* Do you want the County to continue operating the Waiehu Golf Course at a financial loss? Would you prefer that the County keep, sell or lease the Golf Course? If privatized, would you support a County program to subsidize efforts to assist youth and elderly golfers who currently frequent the course?
Where would you like to see the approximate $3 Million dollars re-allocated within parks (if course operation by the County is discontinued)?
* Are you in favor of construction at the Kamehameha Ave. and Maui Lani Parkway intersection in order to alleviate traffic congestion? How important is this issue to you?
* Are you in favor of a $1.9 Million project to retro-fit street lighting in order to create a more environmentally friendly street lighting infrastructure? The project is projected to eventually save taxpayers close to $700,000 per year due to rebates and less energy use.
Come join in the fun. This is our chance to press our legislators to evolve the existing Good-Old-Boy network of political and economic patronage into a county governance that truly serves its people.
- March 30, Kihei Community Center, Main Hall, 303 East Lipoa St., Kihei
- April 3, Lanai Senior Center, 309 7th St., Lanai City
- April 5, Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center, Social Hall, 91 Pukalani St., Pukalani
- April 6, Paia Community Center, Social Hall, Hana Hwy., Paia
- April 10, Mitchell Pauole Community Center, Social Hall, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai
- April 13, Helene Hall, Social Hall, 150 Keawa Pl., Hana
- April 17, Lahaina Civic Center, Social Hall, 1840 Honoapiilani Hwy., Lahaina
- April 18, public hearing at the Council Chambers, 200 South High St., 8th floor, Wailuku.
All district meetings will begin at 6 p.m., with the exception of Molokai with a 6:30 p.m. start.
Visit MauiCounty.us/2018budget for meeting schedules, documents, agendas, announcements, and other information relating to the budget session. Testimony may also be emailed to bf.committee@mauicounty.us, referencing BF-1.
For special accommodations during any of the meetings, please call 270-7838 at least three days in advance.