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

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.