From The Maui News:

The budget for the staff and operation of the Mayor’s Office is proposed to rise 15 percent next fiscal year — including two new administrative assistant positions — according to presentations made before the County Council’s Budget and Finance Committee on Monday.

Mayor Alan Arakawa‘s administration’s proposed budget, which includes the salaries, operations and equipment for the mayor and his assistants, is $2.1 million for next fiscal year that begins July 1 — a 15 percent increase from this year’s adopted budget of $1.8 million.

The proposed budget includes money for two new administrative assistant positions that were hired this year, which brings the total staff to 30 not counting the mayor, said county Budget Director Sandy Baz on Monday.

If the mayor’s proposal is approved, it would be the first in four years that the mayor’s office budget for wages would increase. Due to difficult economic times, reductions in the budget for administration sa-laries and operations have ranged year-over-year from 0 to 8.2 percent, according to the mayor’s office. Read the full story.

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

Hawaii County Council debate on planned unit developments

Blog looks at Garden Isle TVR abuse

Hurdles remain for giant telescope

Driver pleads in 2008 Kapaa drive-by shooting case

Residents: Papaikou Mill beach access a must

Kauai Humane Society: funding not enough

Kahului Airport people movers will be back

Kukui Grove vandal found not fit for trial

HTA planning for sustainable tourism growth

HELCO ranks 12th in nation for solar power

KIUC No. 2 utility in U.S. for solar energy

Queen Liliuokalani Trust opens Kepookalani Interpretive Center

Sheriffs, PTA partner on firearms range

Hawaii lawmakers hope to address physician shortage

County auditor asks Kauai Council to restore position

HELCO looks to “smart” technology for meter reading

Photo courtesy Hitchster.

—Chad Blair