Maui mayor wants
property taxes cut

By Gary Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU >> Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana wants to reduce property tax rates across the board by a little more than 2 percent and substantially roll back community center fees as part of his proposed $274.1 million budget for fiscal year 2002.

In a speech delivered yesterday, Apana said the property tax reduction would amount to a $4 million tax cut for residents.

Apana also proposed increasing the operating budget by 13 percent -- to $213.7 million -- and capital improvements spending by nearly 68 percent -- to $60.4 million.

Among projects proposed: a new Wailea fire station, a new police station on Lanai, designing a north-south collector road for Kihei and building an alternate route for Lahainaluna Road.

He also wants to spend $1.75 million to expand the Central Maui Youth Center and $2 million on a multipurpose community center on Lanai, with dormitories that can be used by visiting youth teams.

Overall, Maui County is growing economically, with an expanding property tax base and an anticipated increase in its share of the visitor accommodation tax.

Apana said the county was expected to receive an "unanticipated windfall" of about $4 million from an out-of-court settlement related to the state public utilities tax.

Apana said at least $10 million of the $25.2 million proposed increase in the operating budget stems from "fixed" cost items, including payments to the employee retirement system and salary and benefit adjustments to government workers.

Under Apana's proposal to reduce community center rental fees, the county would cut the charge to $120 from $455 at the Kihei Community Center and to $100 from $325 at the Wailuku Community Center.

Apana's proposal to roll back community center rental fees follows public criticism by some residents who use the facilities for baby luaus, anniversaries and wedding receptions.

It also became a major point in a political campaign by Alan Arakawa, who in the last election unseated incumbent Councilman Mike Davis, chairman of the Council's Parks Committee that approved the increases.

Arakawa, who ran unsuccessfully against Apana for mayor in 1998, said he plans to run for mayor again next year.