Mayor Bryan Baptiste has approved the Kauai County Council’s $102.5 million operating budget and a $16.8 million public improvement budget for the next fiscal year, effective July 1. The operating budget exceeds $100 million for the first time in the
Mayor Bryan Baptiste has approved the Kauai County Council’s $102.5 million operating budget and a $16.8 million public improvement budget for the next fiscal year, effective July 1.
The operating budget exceeds $100 million for the first time in the history of Kaua‘i County, and marks about a 5 percent increase from the current county operating budget of $97.4 million. The higher budget reflects more property tax revenues that have been taken in by county officials because of the sale and sometimes repeat sale of high-priced properties on Kaua‘i in a trend that started in four years ago.
The property sales have driven up assessments that have generated $53 million in real property revenues projected for the next fiscal year.
Kaua‘i County officials initially projected $56 million and more in real property tax revenues to come to the county next year.
But the county will receive $3 million and more in less revenues because property owners have signed up or have qualified for two tax relief programs that were initiated and supported by the Kaua‘i County Council and Baptiste.
Baptiste and council members pushed for the tax relief programs as a way to help protect longtime residents from being taxed off their land. Among other county programs that were funded, the approved budget sets aside funds to hire five more fighters, two more water safety officers and two part-time water safety officers and to conduct a performance audit of government services.
The budget also sets aside $175,000 for salary increases for Baptiste and at least 30 appointees should the council agree to do so, and another $990,000 to cover pay raises for Hawaii Government Employee Association members who are county employees.
