Maui Raises General Excise Tax To Pay For Housing Infrastructure

The 0.5% surcharge takes effect next year.

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The 0.5% surcharge takes effect next year.

The Maui County Council has approved a surcharge to the state general excise tax to raise money for specific types of housing infrastructure projects. 

Maui County locator map

The council voted 8-0 on Tuesday to adopt a 0.5% surcharge on top of the state’s 4% GET, starting Jan. 1. Council member Gabe Johnson of Lanai, who didn’t attend the meeting, was excused from the vote.

Under the new law, the tax must pay for “housing infrastructure,” defined as water projects, drainage, sewers, waste disposal and waste treatment facilities that connect to the county’s existing systems. It also includes walking paths and sidewalks “on a county road near or around a public school.”

Under the new law, 20% of the new revenue must be funneled toward projects that help the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands develop homesteads. 

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by grants from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.

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