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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 6, 2003

Big Island mayor opposes raises

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

Big Island Mayor Harry Kim says he doesn't want a raise.

He also advised the county Salary Commission yesterday that pay raises of up to $16,000 to various top appointees "is not appropriate" at this time, and that any extra county money should be spent catching up on maintenance or hiring additional workers to deliver services to the growing Big Island population.

The mayor did not attend the commission's special meeting yesterday, but his comments were delivered by county Managing Director Dixie Kaetsu. She said that Kim believes top county managers deserve raises, but they should be granted in smaller increments over five years or so.

The Salary Commission has proposed a package of raises for department heads, their deputies and other managers that would initially cost the county about $400,000. That does not include the increased cost of fringe benefits such as retirement contributions that are tied to salary levels.

Commission Chairman J. William Sanborn said the exact pay raise amounts have not been determined, and that the panel offered some specific numbers for discussion purposes.

Sanborn said the raises are meant to bring top county managers' pay more in line with other counties and the private sector.

The proposed pay increases would boost the Big Island mayor's annual pay from $85,050 to $99,007.

By comparison, the Maui County mayor makes $96,000 a year, and the Ho-nolulu mayor makes $112,200. The Hawai'i governor makes $94,780.

Kim said the mayor should not get a raise "at this time." He also reminded the commission that during negotiations with the Hawai'i Government Employees Association and the United Public Workers, the state and counties offered no raises because of the weak fiscal outlook.

"It is difficult to maintain that the county cannot fund any pay increases for HGEA and UPW members while approving executive salary hikes," he said.

Under the proposed pay scale, salaries for the highest-paid Big Island department heads, including the corporation counsel, director of public works and the planning director, would rise from $75,516 to $91,559 per year.

Other department heads such as the directors of parks, data systems and environmental management would see their pay increased from $75,516 to $85,526.

Thanks to raises approved by the Salary Commission, the Big Island police chief and fire chief are now paid $91,559 each. The commission did not propose additional raises for those positions.

The commission will hold another public hearing on the pay proposal Nov. 21 in Kona, and will begin decision-making at its Dec. 3 meeting in Hilo.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.