### Resolution 26-87 — Climate Action and Resiliency Revolving Fund (20% of TAT Revenue) ⚠️
**Position: SUPPORT WITH A FLAGGED CONCERN ON RIGIDITY**
Aloha Chair Batangan and Members of the Committee,
I testify in support of Resolution 26-87, with one concern I ask the Committee to consider. Dedicating a fixed share of Transient Accommodations Tax revenue to climate resilience is a meaningful, concrete response in a County that lived through the August 8, 2023 wildfires. According to the County's own FY2025 Revenue Overview, TAT revenue fell from $84.5 million in FY2023 to a conservatively estimated $60.0 million in FY2025 due to the tourism downturn following the fires — TAT is the County's second-largest General Fund revenue source, so a 20% set-aside translates to roughly $12 million annually at current depressed levels, and significantly more as tourism recovers. (Source: County of Maui FY2025 Revenue Overview, mauicounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/149023)
My one concern: because this would be written into the Charter rather than set through the annual budget process, it binds future Councils to a fixed percentage regardless of what other emergencies or shortfalls arise in a given year. I ask the Committee to consider whether a periodic review mechanism — even just a Council option to adjust the percentage in a declared emergency — could preserve the fund's intent while avoiding permanent budgetary rigidity. With or without that addition, I support this resolution moving forward.
### Resolution 26-87 — Climate Action and Resiliency Revolving Fund (20% of TAT Revenue) ⚠️
**Position: SUPPORT WITH A FLAGGED CONCERN ON RIGIDITY**
Aloha Chair Batangan and Members of the Committee,
I testify in support of Resolution 26-87, with one concern I ask the Committee to consider. Dedicating a fixed share of Transient Accommodations Tax revenue to climate resilience is a meaningful, concrete response in a County that lived through the August 8, 2023 wildfires. According to the County's own FY2025 Revenue Overview, TAT revenue fell from $84.5 million in FY2023 to a conservatively estimated $60.0 million in FY2025 due to the tourism downturn following the fires — TAT is the County's second-largest General Fund revenue source, so a 20% set-aside translates to roughly $12 million annually at current depressed levels, and significantly more as tourism recovers. (Source: County of Maui FY2025 Revenue Overview, mauicounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/149023)
My one concern: because this would be written into the Charter rather than set through the annual budget process, it binds future Councils to a fixed percentage regardless of what other emergencies or shortfalls arise in a given year. I ask the Committee to consider whether a periodic review mechanism — even just a Council option to adjust the percentage in a declared emergency — could preserve the fund's intent while avoiding permanent budgetary rigidity. With or without that addition, I support this resolution moving forward.
Mahalo,
Shelby "Pikachu" Billionaire