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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 11, 2009

WAILUKU
Mayor says her budget won't reduce or cut jobs

Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares yesterday said her proposed budget for fiscal year 2009-10 has no layoffs, furloughs or job position cuts, the Maui News reported.

Her comments came in reaction to police Chief Tom Phillips' concern that budget restrictions would leave the Maui Police Department without dozens of positions and lead to a reduction in public safety services.

As of March 1, the department had 328 sworn officers and 116 civilian workers. There also were 39 vacant officer positions and 27 unfilled civilian positions.

Phillips yesterday said the department still needs to reduce overtime by $2 million and cut funding for 37 unfilled positions to accommodate negotiated police pay raises that go into effect July 1.