[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6580806,"mediaKeyId","3138558-e2f796018cdbdaab72699083aa7e2a7b","parentId",3138558,"title","Maui committee trims FY26 budget, approves targeted CIP and personnel reductions","audioSeconds",9537,"startMs",1515000,"endMs",11052000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3138558-e2f796018cdbdaab72699083aa7e2a7b&start=1515&end=11052","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3138558-e2f796018cdbdaab72699083aa7e2a7b/thumbnail_1515000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580806/Maui-County/Hawaii/Maui-committee-trims-FY26-budget-approves-targeted-CIP-and-personnel-reductions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580806-81bcd7c21f3954a62f5fb40589e06bde/orig.mp4?Expires=1770426422&Signature=Xj3zRZpjJqrG7E7hvTb44E0Fsukxc-aTDgkSQ1iirGg-fkcbfWriuVEVE5wIMn1NxCB4Ct1UItFhpTwQcjTSLawtRCQyOtbeE7edoy3zzkmUtNWo1pya3TGntDGIWCmZ1ka8u5qlRfyuIw97-lBnFLdx22pHw0bznAYkAOiJ9pKwclkw0YRicxHH-8Rx5ZpdrV5wAqytVC2vb8uutYGoh2eT~rn8KLMS9xLWzxaurtLlZKVafWzkLuKCqNsDEd7ERy1kKMfZ4uddDSHZuQgRvJIb74oKj03GPmHgTImU0Aa8lq1WvI3mMardj5KBvHP1juCrmAGSTdDx509cgCzGnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maui County","date","2025-04-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Maui County Council's Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee on Sunday approved several targeted reductions and supplemental transfers intended to narrow its proposed FY26 budget above the mayor's submission.

Committee members approved a package of cuts and adjustments that includes a $5 million reduction to post-employment obligations (OPEB), a $1 million decrease tied to firefighter temporary hazard pay, and 10% across‑the‑board reductions to selected countywide capital improvement program (CIP) appropriations for public works and facilities. The committee also approved shortening funding for certain expansion positions (department hires) from eight months to four months to reduce near‑term appropriations.

The committee began the recessed session by reviewing the budget imbalance, which staff said originated from the committee's current proposal exceeding the mayor's March 25 submission by roughly $92.6 million across funds before actions were taken. Staff later reported the committee had reduced the gap substantially through motions adopted during the meeting; after the day's actions staff reported an outstanding general‑fund imbalance in the low tens of millions (staff later refined that figure to roughly $22.2 million). Committee chair Yuki Lei Sugimura opened the session noting the meeting was a recess to finish deliberations.

Why it matters: The adjustments move the committee closer to a balanced FY26 budget without undoing all program additions members previously requested. The motions affect both operating obligations (for example, OPEB and hazard pay) and capital projects, so they can alter near‑term service delivery or the schedule of infrastructure work if departments come back for budget amendments.

Key votes and actions
- OPEB / firefighter hazard pay: Councilmember Tamara Paulton moved to reduce OPEB (post‑employment obligations) by $5,000,000 and to decrease temporary firefighter hazard pay funding by $1,000,000. Chair Sugimura seconded; the motion passed on roll call (7 ayes, 1 no, 1 excused/recused). The committee clarified the vote left an estimate of $6–8 million still available for hazard pay overall, but reduced the immediate appropriation.

- Member Paulton package: Councilmember Paulton presented a supplemental package of cuts (initially summarized as a $31.1 million worksheet but later reconciled by staff as a $23.2 million net decrease from the exhibit the morning of the recess). The committee voted to adopt the package as amended; the main adoption passed on roll call (8 ayes, 1 no).

- CIP percentage cuts: The committee considered two approaches to reduce CIP spending: (1) percentage cuts to keep projects intact but shrink funding amounts, and (2) replacing line-item amounts with a lump “pot” for departments to draw from. Bond counsel and the budget director advised against removing per‑project amounts from the ordinance at this time. The committee approved 10% reductions on selected public‑works and facilities countywide CIP lines (motions carried by roll call margins reported as 6–3 and 7–2 respectively for different sets of items). Directors told the committee they could absorb a 10% reduction and would return for budget amendments if individual projects needed additional funds.

- Expansion positions: The committee approved a motion to fund some expansion positions for four months rather than eight, producing approximately $970,021 in near‑term savings (civilian fringe not yet included in that figure); members voted in favor by voice (recorded as 9 ayes).

- Emergency fund: The committee reduced the administration's proposed emergency reserve by $5,000,000 (motion carried by voice vote; later recorded as 9 ayes) after members negotiated and agreed on a smaller reduction than initially proposed.

Process notes and next steps
Committee staff and the budget director exchanged calculations throughout the session; staff asked for time to reconcile minor spreadsheet differences and fringe benefit impacts. Members agreed to reconvene the following day for corrections and to finalize the committee report prior to the council deadlines. Chair Sugimura asked staff to post exhibit updates and provide a one‑page summary of net changes for members.

Attribution: Quotes and attributions in this article are drawn from Committee Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura, Councilmember Tamara Paulton and Budget Director Leslie Milner as identified in the meeting transcript.

Ending: The committee recessed and planned to reconvene the next day to finalize the package and complete required publish/post deadlines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Maui County - Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee (2025-2027) on 2025-04-27 11:00 AM - Reconvened from 04/25/2025 at 9:00 a.m. - Apr 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Maui County Council's Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee on Sunday approved several targeted reductions and supplemental transfers intended to narrow its proposed FY26 budget above the mayor's submission.","taxTitle","Maui County, Hawaii","taxId",12846,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6580804,"Maui committee raises top tiers on property classes, approves FY26 real‑property tax schedule",8284,4104000,12388000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3138558-e2f796018cdbdaab72699083aa7e2a7b&start=4104&end=12388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3138558-e2f796018cdbdaab72699083aa7e2a7b/thumbnail_4104000.jpg","/articles/6580804/Maui-County/Hawaii/Maui-committee-raises-top-tiers-on-property-classes-approves-FY26-realproperty-tax-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580804-db8b1e17a122568a61b856919bdcea46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770426422&Signature=OJ7TOS3ZZHh8Hs7FbbfurgiWMYcuTHu6xTKfXGAOXhXXu-7seJhs41iYhy8KOpWaSTcAXZ~WHqQS5jRK~cLc8S1Bvzm3j1zwVEo5vfsWFyPzND5Nqp0OHCyF7g2ou6vcTELNd1Vw4-ftIaOUmgBfGwjHRuhixL3eeyzcECKE9E9zuYcaST5s0BsvfWk8Tbj9CnN-5bejnUrAqBYDazmoS0pQwvujBX9Sw8Qd2SnzKI4F1o1oL2dnqNXdhDvSFEHRZLVmZghVt1WJymp1B8ykOtm3Ls~vDl~xfovfF86KaW2-VNzTtrehbd3NYSBj~qLtSznHx9VwPqtH2hCzH9TtUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee of the Maui County Council on Sunday adopted an amended FY26 real‑property tax (RPT) rate schedule that raises top tiers for several property classes in order to help close the committee's remaining general‑fund imbalance.

The committee approved changes that include a higher third tier for non‑owner‑occupied (investment) properties, an increase to the timeshare class rate, and an increase to the highest tier of short‑term/vacation rental (TBR) rates. After members' amendments and votes, staff reported the adopted rate package would generate roughly $26.07 million above the mayor's certified revenue baseline, which the committee used to cover outstanding general‑fund needs and the charter-required 1% open‑space transfer.

Why it matters: The adopted rates affect commercial owners, investors and short‑term rental operators across Maui County and supply most of the near‑term revenue the committee needs to balance its FY26 package without restoring all the cuts members made to operating and capital accounts.

Major rate changes adopted
- Non‑owner‑occupied (investment) properties: committee increased the top tier (properties above the high threshold) to $17 per $1,000 of assessed value (third tier) to target higher‑value investment parcels.

- Timeshare classification: the committee approved raising the timeshare class rate to $16.60 per $1,000.

- Short‑term rentals / TBR (mayor's tier thresholds): committee raised the top tier to $16.50 per $1,000.

- Long‑term rental (owner occupied vs. investor split): the committee also adopted a distinct long‑term rental schedule using the mayor's tier thresholds (roughly $2.95, $5 and $12 for the three tiers as discussed) and accepted an amended owner‑occupied tier schedule for primary residences (first tier eased modestly; second tier adjusted to provide targeted relief; highest tier raised modestly for high‑value homes).

Committee discussion and votes
Councilmembers discussed equity and appeal risk: several members said they favored increasing top tiers on investment and short‑term classes to get revenue from higher‑value properties rather than increasing rates on owner‑occupied (primary residence) taxpayers. Others warned that heavy increases could trigger assessment appeals, which could reduce realized revenue in future years.

After a motion by Councilmember Tamara Paulton to set a comprehensive package of rate changes and a later amendment from Councilmember Tom Cook that adjusted commercial/residential and non‑owner‑occupied tiers, the committee adopted the final package on a roll call. Staff calculated the package would generate $26,069,144 over the certified baseline; staff and counsel noted the committee also must include the charter 1% open space transfer in final posting. The motion as amended passed by voice/roll call vote with nine ayes recorded for the final RPT package.

Attribution: Direct attributions in this article come from multiple councilmembers and staff statements recorded in the meeting transcript; when quoted the speaker is identified using the meeting speaker list.

Ending: Committee staff will post the rate schedule for the required public notice and the committee reconvened the next day to finalize the committee report and correct any posting calculations as needed.","The committee set new FY26 real property tax rates including a higher top tier for non‑owner‑occupied properties and increases to timeshare and short‑term rental top tiers; members adopted the amended rate schedule after debating tier structure and the county's revenue target.","actionData","errors"]

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Maui committee trims FY26 budget, approves targeted CIP and personnel reductions

Maui committee raises top tiers on property classes, approves FY26 real‑property tax schedule