Apana’s budget would
keep current tax rates

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By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

WAILUKU >> Maui County Mayor James "Kimo" Apana has proposed adding a police beat and eventually a police station in the growing community of South Maui.

Apana made the announcement during a speech yesterday in which he discussed details of his proposed budget for the fiscal 2003, which starts July 1.

The proposed $273.3 million budget is about $6.5 million less than was spent in the previous fiscal year, his administration said.

His proposal included no increases in fees or real property tax rates.

Even with the county's real property tax revenues increasing to $101.9 million in the next fiscal year from $95.1 million, officials expect a big drop in other tax collections, such as the transient accommodations tax, which totals $6.5 million.

New construction and an increase in high-end residential real estate contributed to the increase in revenues.

Apana has also proposed spending $4 million for the purchase of park land and open space, and increasing the amount for the Maui Visitors Bureau to $3.6 million from $3.3 million. The mayor said the increase would be used with the understanding that the bureau assist Lanai and Molokai in its marketing and also put a Hana resident on its board.

About $41.1 million of $75.5 million proposed for building improvements would be spent on road improvements, including more than $12 million for South Maui and more than $10 million for Wailuku-Kahului.

Apana wants to spend about $5 million for replacement of bridges in Hana at Kaholopo, Paihi and Papaahawahawa, and $1 million for an Upcountry Service Center, to serve as a satellite city hall.

The mayor proposed spending $300,000 for planning for a Kihei Police Station and $1 million for a revolving loan fund that would help homeowners buy solar water-heating units.

Apana also has proposed doing away with tipping fees for residents who take their rubbish to the county landfills.

Councilman Alan Arakawa, who plans to run against Apana in the mayoral race, said the alternate-route plan for West Maui was "all smoke and mirrors," and questioned paying for a study when the state has not placed the route high on its list of priorities.