A study by the County Council showed that costs associated with permitting big developments significantly exceed the fees collected to issue the permits. Despite that study, the Council voted not to raise permit fees. Gladys Baisa called the proposal to raise fees in order to cover costs “draconian”.

The plan would have gradually adjust fees over five years until they eventually covered about 70 percent of processing costs.

Although mainland building departments charge fees that pay for their services Councilmembers Couch, Baisa, and White strongly objected to doing the same in Maui.

Read more at the Maui News.