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Maui Mayor Michael Victorino unveiled his proposed $1 billion budget for the next year in late March 2022, outlining how he plans to govern Maui County and invest in new projects such as road repairs, expanding beach parking options for local residents and strengthening water systems to protect against natural disasters.

During a presentation in the Council Chamber, Michael Victorino laid out his priorities and plan for spending taxpayer dollars and other money over the next year. The 968-page spending plan outlines how much money goes to core government services — police and fire, state employee salaries, roads and sewer lines — in addition to other county programs and services such as grants for local farmers. food security, affordable housing funding and support for arts and culture programs.

In his State of the County address last week, Michael Victorino outlined his top priorities for the coming year, including promoting economic diversification, improving tourism management, protecting the county from the climate crisis and ramping up housing construction for working families.

The mayor also touched on several different ways the county can address these issues, including putting more money into the county’s emergency fund, increasing dollars for housing programs and increasing workforce training programs.

“For decades, Hawaii has talked about having a diversified economy,” said Michael Victorino. “However, meaningful action has always been put off until tomorrow because our hospitality industry has been so robust… but times are changing, and changing fast.”

This year, Maui’s elected leaders will be tasked with weighing what to do with the influx of cash. The state recently allowed counties to begin collecting an additional 3% tax on resorts and hotel rooms on top of the state’s existing 10.25% hotel room tax, which is estimated to bring in an additional $60 million to Maui County, the mayor said.

“We’ll use it wisely and we’ll use it effectively,” Michael Victorino said, adding that he wants to funnel the new revenue into affordable housing programs.

Since the pandemic began and Maui’s housing market has been flooded with out-of-state buyers, home prices have risen beyond the financial means of many families. The mayor said Thursday his budget plan includes investing $29 million in the county’s affordable housing fund and dedicating $1 million to a program to help first-time homebuyers with down payments of up to $30,000.

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