Richard T. Bissen Jr.

Emergency evacuation routes for South Maui

Building a North Kīhei bypass or opening ranch-road access would require major county infrastructure spending not yet funded.

Kula (Waiakoa) gym damage and possible total loss

Potential full facility replacement if deemed a total loss; FEMA eligibility pursued through reclassification.

Safe parking pilot program expansion (Bill 133)

Funded from the council-approved emergency needs set-aside; testifiers questioned the cost versus using existing park infrastructure.

Open Space Fund and wildfire fuel reduction

Would have redirected Open Space Fund money toward wildfire prevention; withdrawn before fiscal analysis.

Lobbyist regulation in Maui County

Lobbyist violations would carry fines of up to $5,000 — five times the $1,000 cap for employee ethics violations.

Countywide disaster preparedness and evacuation planning

Kona Low storm impacts on county parks

Hundreds of thousands in storm costs sit on the parks budget while FEMA reimbursement is uncertain — if the appeal fails, taxpayers eat the cost.

Ha'ikū Fire Station land entitlements and disputed title

Building the station is projected at roughly $18 million or more, and a title lawsuit could add costs and delays that fall on taxpayers.

License plate reader data regulation (Bill 113)

The cameras came bundled with a Motorola radios contract plus a $150,000 federal JAG grant; yearly licensing fees run roughly $150-$200 per camera, already budgeted for FY 2027.

Workplace safety and harassment policy review

Countywide homelessness plan still in development

The council approved an additional $1.5 million in the upcoming budget to support the director's new programs.

emergency shelters and closures

The main money impact is public spending on shelter operations and closures, plus possible out-of-pocket costs for people who evacuate or lose access to services.

Settlement of USERRA lawsuit against Maui County

Settlement dollars would come out of County funds — the exact amount hasn't been made public.

Firefighter union labor settlement and pay increases

Firefighters get added 1.5% raises in 2027 and 2028 on top of the arbitration award, a multi-year cost to the County budget.

Facial recognition technology moratorium question (Bill 112)

No facial recognition purchases are currently budgeted; costs of future systems were not stated.

South Maui Houselessness Strategic Plan

Estimated at up to $100,000, funded by county, state and private sources.

Wildfire evacuation and infrastructure-first growth

Infrastructure concurrency would cost the county heavily; grid hardening falls to HECO after its $2 billion settlement.

Board of Ethics Staffing

Adds two full-time positions to the Board of Ethics budget.

Emergency preparedness for kūpuna and disabled residents

Referral gaps between ethics board, council, prosecutors, and auditor

TAT brings in up to $84 million a year, and the county has been managing it with a homemade Access database until the new system launches.

Fire and Public Safety cuts