Budget committee to discuss surcharge on general excise tax

The Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee will resume discussion on a possible 0.5 percent surcharge on the state’s 4 percent general excise tax to fund housing infrastructure.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers on the eighth floor of the Kalana O Maui building. It also can be viewed on Akaku, the Maui County Council’s Facebook page or through the council’s website at mauicounty.us.

The committee will also discuss revising the bill to, among other things, clarify allowable uses for the revenue, said Committee Chairwoman Yuki Lei Sugimura. The committee may also consider whether to recommend passage of Bill 49.

“With such high demand for more affordable housing, we are exploring different ways to reduce the cost of infrastructure for homebuyers,” Sugimura said. “We encourage the community to testify and work with our committee to refine the bill in a way that best serves Maui County.”

The general excise tax fund will only be used toward housing infrastructure including water, drainage, sewer, waste disposal and waste treatment systems that connect to county infrastructure. If approved, the tax surcharge will be levied beginning Jan. 1.

In-person, online and phone testimony is welcomed. Testimony instructions are on the meeting agendas at mauicounty.us/ agendas.

Legislation and other supporting documents are also accessible via the meeting agendas.

For more information email BFED.Committee@ mauicounty.us or contact the Office of Council Services at (808) 270- 7838.