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County officials outline plans to standardize grant administration, ease small-grant process
Summary
Budget Director Lesley Milner and Chief of Staff Cynthia Lallo briefed the Board of Ethics on plans to standardize grant administration across roughly 11 departments, simplify applications for grants $30,000 or less, extend reimbursement documentation deadlines from 30 to 90 days, and create a centralized grants webpage; roughly 260 grantees receive County funding annually.
County Budget Director Lesley J.C. Milner and Chief of Staff Cynthia D. Lallo presented the Board of Ethics on May 13 with an overview of Maui County’s grant administration and proposed reforms aimed at improving oversight, consistency and accessibility.
Milner said grants are awarded either by competitive application or as line-item grants and that roughly 260 grantees receive funding annually, with awards ranging from a few thousand dollars up to tens of millions for major housing projects. She said about 11 county departments administer grants, which has produced inconsistency and duplication that working groups are now coordinating to resolve.
Chief of Staff Cynthia D. Lallo told the Board the County will pursue countywide administrative rules expected to take effect in fiscal year 2027 to standardize application, vetting, disbursement and monitoring procedures. Proposed changes discussed included a centralized public grants webpage listing opportunities and requirements, a simplified application process for grants of $30,000 or less, more flexible installment payments, and extending reimbursement documentation deadlines from 30 to 90 days to ease burdens on small nonprofit applicants.
Finance Director Marcy Martin explained that grants are managed differently from procurement contracts and that Finance reviews reimbursement requests and monitors irregularities. Board members asked about departmental roles and indicated interest in future updates on the proposed code amendments and administrative changes.
