Maui County Council may get big pay raise

Associated Press

WAILUKU, Maui — Members of the Maui County Council may earn as much as $85,000 annually, nearly double their present salary, under a proposal being considered by the county salary commission.

The commission is discussing pay raises that would make salaries between $65,000 and $85,000. Council members, who last received a pay raise in 1998, currently earn $44,000 annually, while the council chairman makes $48,000.

Commissioner Gladys Baisa said she supports the pay increase because of the long hours required and the responsibility of legislating ordinances in a county with an annual budget of close to $400 million.

Baisa said the council salaries were not even close to the 2003 median household income in Maui County of $60,700.

The commission is scheduled to discuss the proposal at a public meeting on Sept. 10, but Baisa and some other commission members said they want to vote on the proposal in November after the general election to prevent the suggested pay increase becoming an election issue.

During the commission meeting Friday, Maui resident Sally Raisbeck testified she thought the proposed $85,000 annual salary is a good figure.

Raisbeck said the salary increase might attract people who otherwise might not be able to afford running for office.

"You don't want entry-level people running the county," she said.