Wanting to lay a solid foundation for Maui County in years to come, Mayor Alan Arakawa unveiled his 2013-14 budget request Monday with a wish list of more than $105 million for infrastructure and facility improvement projects.

Arakawa told Maui County Council members that the projects ranging from road resurfacing to wastewater and water supply improvements need to be done sooner rather than later.

“Our infrastructure and facilities are old. Our maintenance workers are making repairs and extending operational life where they can, but it is only a temporary fix,” Arakawa told council members, his staff and members of the public in his budget presentation in Council Chambers. “My point is that now is the time to do something about it. We need to act now, while interest rates are low and construction companies are charging less,” he said. Read the full story.

And here’s the latest in other neighbor isle gov’t and politics:

Central Maui regional park subject of stakeholder meeting

West Hawaii campus moving forward

Domestic violence led to Molokai fatal shooting

Resolution calls for ocean-safety videos on flights

Hawaii County aerial hunting ban challenged

‘Believe in Dreams’ overflows to students during ‘Spray Away Meth’

Reception set for women nominated for Maui County awards

Puna Geothermal to hold Pahoa community meeting

Photo courtes DirectDish.

—Chad Blair