Maui County Council Budget Committee Reviews FY 2027 Police Budget on April 14, 2026

The Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee, chaired by Vice Chair Calvin Batongan, met on April 14, 2026, to continue deliberation on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for Maui County. The primary focus was the Department of Police budget, with opening remarks by the police chief and detailed questioning by councilmembers. The meeting also included public testimony and a report from a prior community hearing on Molokai.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kate Anderson testified in support of funding an Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) survey of Maui's aquifers, costing less than $4 million, to improve water resource management. She urged the council to include this investment, noting that Oahu also plans a similar survey and that doing the entire island at once saves on mobilization costs.
• Travis Ligett testified about accelerating wastewater disinfection at the Kahului facility, arguing that untreated wastewater may contribute to crime by causing infections that affect the nervous system. He claimed disinfection was “illegally seized” at the facility in 2018 and that no council members were informed.
• Kealamauloa Tengan, executive director of Kaehu, a nonprofit on Molokai, reported that Kaehu's programs served over 5,000 participants in 2025—a 250% increase from prior years. She requested $500,000 to expand their small team (currently three people) and support food distribution, restoration, cultural education, and fire/flood mitigation work.
• JC Long expressed support for the police department, asked about recycling and trash removal at the police station, and suggested meals at the jail could improve. He also apologized to the chief for a false accusation incident in Kula, referencing Mayor Bissen's comment that “don't apologize, it's a sign of weakness.”

Molokai Budget Hearing Report

• Councilmember Rollins Fernandez reported on a prior community hearing on Molokai (held on the evening of April 13, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:50 p.m.). Six council members attended and heard from 31 individuals. Testifiers supported various programs, including:
  • Molokai Rural Health Community Association (Kupuna programs: social activities, yard service, lomi, podiatry, haircuts, foot care for diabetes)
  • MEDB STEM works (students presenting at a conference and a film on bullying at the Hawaii International Film Festival)
  • MEO (transportation, community service, head start)
  • Family Life Center on Molokai
  • Molokai Community Health Center
  • Maui Family Support Services (Papamakua program)
  • Hale Makua adult daycare (first-time funding)
  • MOMISC (Molokai committee for Maui Invasive Species Control, especially regarding a recent coconut rhinoceros beetle finding)
  • Hui Volokai (matching fund under open space)
  • Maui Film Commission (pilot program for local filmmakers)
  • Sustainable Molokai and Molokai Heritage Trust

Deliberation on the Police Department Budget

• The police chief presented a vision of an “elite department,” emphasizing the need for technology, a real-time operations center, and the first patrol canine unit in the state's history. He argued that the police department carries the burden of maintaining radio and communications infrastructure for the entire county.
• Key points from the chief's opening statement:
  • The department is asking for $1.7 million for the real-time op center, which uses AI anomalies to detect incidents (e.g., fires, crowds).
  • The department has two full-time patrol canines, two in training, two narcotic canines, and seeks four more to provide 24/7 coverage islandwide.
  • The department identified 102 loved ones after the 2023 wildfires—a feat never before achieved in American history (100% identification at two months, compared to 80% at four months in California's Camp Fire).
• Councilmembers asked about vacancies, recruitment, telecommunicator retention, car procurement, canine usage, professional services costs, the Molokai Youth Leadership Program, permitting for CIP projects, and specific community concerns (Kalama Park, Wailuku, Hana, Kahului transit hub).

Key Outcomes

• Police Budget: No vote was taken; the item was deferred for further consideration.
• Follow-Up Questions: Councilmembers directed the police department to provide written responses to outstanding questions by 9:00 a.m. the next day (April 15). For departments that have not yet responded, questions must be submitted by noon on April 15.
• Upcoming Meetings:
  • April 14, 2026 (evening): South Maui residency area meeting at Kihei Community Center (dinner at 5 p.m., meeting 6–8 p.m.)
  • April 15, 2026 (evening): Lanai residency area meeting
  • April 16, 2026, at 1 p.m.: Next in-chamber meeting with the Department of Environmental Management
• Police Commission Chairs: The chief defended the cost of $965 per chair for the police commission meeting room, stating they have a 15–20 year lifespan and are needed to reflect the county's standard.