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South Maui Businesses: Your Input Needed Now for County Budget Priorities

·6 min read·⚡ Act Now

Executive Summary

A community town hall on February 24th presents a critical, time-sensitive opportunity for South Maui businesses to influence county budget allocations, potentially impacting future taxes, fees, and service levels. Failure to participate means forfeiting direct input on financial impacts that could affect operating costs and development. Act now by attending or submitting input.

Action Required

High PriorityFebruary 24

The town hall is scheduled for February 24th, and failure to participate or provide input by this date means missing the opportunity to influence budget priorities.

Small business operators should prepare a 1-2 minute statement for the town hall, focusing on one key budget priority (e.g., opposing a proposed increase in the business license fee, advocating for better road maintenance in commercial areas). Real estate owners should articulate the need for fiscal prudence and investment in growth-driving infrastructure. Tourism operators must emphasize the link between public services and the visitor economy. If unable to attend, submit your concise concerns via email to Council Member Tom Cook's office before the end of day, February 24th.

Who's Affected
Small Business OperatorsReal Estate OwnersTourism Operators
Ripple Effects
  • →Budget allocations for infrastructure → Impacts development timelines and costs for real estate owners.
  • →Changes in county fees and taxes → Affects operating margins for small businesses and tourism operators.
  • →Funding for public services → Influences overall quality of life and attractiveness for remote workers and tourism.
  • →Prioritization of spending → Can lead to underfunding of critical business support or infrastructure, hindering economic diversification.
Beautiful oceanfront homes surrounded by palm trees on the coast of Kihei, Maui.
Photo by Griffin Wooldridge

South Maui Businesses: Your Input Needed Now for County Budget Priorities

A community town hall on February 24th presents a critical, time-sensitive opportunity for South Maui businesses to influence county budget allocations, potentially impacting future taxes, fees, and service levels. Failure to participate means forfeiting direct input on financial impacts that could affect operating costs and development. Act now by attending or submitting input.

The Change

Council Member Tom Cook is hosting a community town hall in South Maui on February 24th at 6:00 PM at the Malcolm Center. The primary objective is to gather direct input from residents and businesses regarding the Maui County Council's budget priorities. This input will inform the council's decisions as they shape the upcoming budget, which will dictate spending on public services, infrastructure projects, and operational costs across the county. While this is a recurring process, the urgency lies in the immediate deadline for participation and the direct link between community feedback and allocation decisions.

Who's Affected

Small Business Operators (e.g., Restaurants, Retail, Services)

  • Impact: Your operating costs are directly tied to county budget decisions. Input at this town hall can influence property taxes, business license fees, waste management costs, and funding for essential services like road maintenance and public safety, all of which impact your bottom line. Businesses operating on thin margins should pay close attention to potential increases in fees or taxes.
  • Timeline: The opportunity to influence budget priorities is immediate, with the town hall on February 24th being the critical date for direct input. Budget deliberations will continue for months, but initial priority setting occurs now.

Real Estate Owners (e.g., Property Owners, Developers, Landlords)

  • Impact: Property taxes are a significant component of county budgets. Your voice matters in discussions about tax rates, allocation of funds for infrastructure development (which increases property values and desirability), and zoning enforcement. Developers should also consider how budget priorities might affect permitting timelines and the availability of public infrastructure to support new projects.
  • Timeline: Similar to small businesses, the input window is closing rapidly. Decisions made now will shape tax assessments and development potential for years to come.

Tourism Operators (e.g., Hotels, Tour Companies, Vacation Rentals)

  • Impact: Tourism is a cornerstone of the Maui economy, and its success relies on public services and infrastructure funded by the county budget. Your input can advocate for or against funding priorities that affect the visitor experience (e.g., beach maintenance, public transport, cultural site preservation) and the operational environment for your businesses (e.g., tourism fees, marketing support, regulatory enforcement). Potential increases in taxes or fees could also be discussed.
  • Timeline: The budget directly funds services and infrastructure that impact tourism. Missing this input opportunity means potentially facing higher operational costs or diminished visitor amenities without having had a chance to shape those outcomes.

Second-Order Effects

Decisions made during the budget priority phase can create cascading effects throughout Hawaii's inter-dependent island economy:

  • Increased local operating costs → Potential reduction in tourism competitiveness → Slower growth in visitor-dependent sectors → Reduced demand for local services and labor → Stagnated wage growth for service industry employees.
  • Higher property taxes → Increased cost of living for residents → Pressure on wages to keep pace → Potential out-migration of local workforce → Labor shortages for small businesses.
  • Delayed infrastructure projects (e.g., road upgrades, water systems) → Increased operational friction for businesses → Reduced efficiency and higher material transport costs.

What to Do

Act Now: The deadline for direct community input is the town hall on February 24th. Here's how each role should engage:

For Small Business Operators:

  1. Attend the Town Hall: Arrive at the Malcolm Center on February 24th at 6:00 PM. Be prepared to speak concisely about specific budget priorities that affect your business, such as seeking a freeze or reduction in proposed fee increases for business licenses, waste collection, or permits. Advocate for increased funding for small business support programs or infrastructure improvements that facilitate commerce.
  2. Submit Written Input: If attendance is impossible, prepare a concise email outlining your business's key budget concerns and recommendations. Send this to Council Member Tom Cook and the County Council's budget committee liaison before or immediately following the town hall. Focus on how specific budget lines (e.g., public works, economic development, licensing fees) directly impact your ability to operate and employ local residents.

For Real Estate Owners:

  1. Attend the Town Hall: Express your views on property tax rates and the importance of investing in infrastructure that supports property value and development. Advocate for efficient use of tax revenue and explore how budget priorities align with or conflict with development goals. Highlight the need for timely and predictable permitting processes, which are often influenced by budget allocations for county departments.
  2. Provide Written Feedback: Detail your priorities regarding property tax stability, infrastructure funding (roads, utilities), and the efficiency of the county's planning and permitting departments. Emphasize the link between sound fiscal management and a stable real estate market.

For Tourism Operators:

  1. Attend the Town Hall: Speak to the importance of a well-funded budget for maintaining public amenities (beaches, parks, visitor centers), supporting essential services (transportation, safety), and potentially investing in tourism marketing or initiatives that enhance the visitor experience. Raise concerns about any proposed fees or taxes that could make Maui less competitive for visitors.
  2. Submit Written Feedback: Articulate how specific budget allocations can either support or hinder the tourism industry. Highlight the need for efficient county services that contribute to a positive visitor experience and a favorable business environment for tourism-related enterprises.

Action Details:

Small business operators should prepare a 1-2 minute statement for the town hall, focusing on one key budget priority (e.g., opposing a proposed increase in the business license fee, advocating for better road maintenance in commercial areas). Real estate owners should articulate the need for fiscal prudence and investment in growth-driving infrastructure. Tourism operators must emphasize the link between public services and the visitor economy. If unable to attend, submit your concise concerns via email to Council Member Tom Cook's office before the end of day, February 24th.

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