Hawaii Tribune-Herald
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Members of the public can offer comments on proposed changes to the county’s Voluntary Housing Buyout Program until May 3.

The county on Monday introduced a series of proposed amendments to its program — which allows owners of properties isolated, damaged or destroyed during the 2018 Kilauea eruption to sell them to the county — and opened a 30-day period for public comment.

Those changes include reducing the maximum payout for undeveloped properties from $230,000 to $22,000, delaying the third and final phase of the program from May to July, cancelling the county’s Housing Relocation Services program, and shifting the relocation services budget to the buyout program.

A virtual public meeting about the changes will be held from 3-5 p.m. on April 18.

The full text of the amendment, a form to submit comments, and a link to register for the meeting can be found at recovery.hawaiicounty.gov.