Posted on: Thursday, June 17, 2004
Kaua'i officials may get raises
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Kaua'i Salary Commission is considering substantial pay increases for County Council members and county executives.
The difference is that the commission will make the final decision on council salaries, while the pay scales for the mayor and department heads and deputies are made by the council and approved by the mayor.
Salary commission Chairman Mark Hubbard said the panel is considering raising council member salaries from $28,744 to between $43,000 and $48,000. The pay for the council chairman would rise from $31,938 to between $47,000 and $52,000.
The increases range from nearly 50 percent to more than 60 percent in both categories.
"The importance of the County Council seems to be ever-increasing. The complexity of the issues and speed of change also seem to be growing. Council members spend more and more time on the job," the commission said in a news release announcing the proposed pay levels.
The higher pay could attract more candidates for office and would align Kaua'i legislative salaries with those in the other counties, the panel said.
The commission proposes raising the mayor's pay from $73,118 to $80,000 and the mayor's administrative assistant from $70,193 to $77,000. Top tier department heads, including county engineer, finance director, water board manager, county attorney, prosecuting attorney, county clerk, police chief, fire chief and planning director would receive $75,000. The personnel director and director of community assistance would be paid $72,000, and the director of economic development and director of liquor control would get $69,000.
Council members already discussed some changes, including one to move the economic development and liquor-control pay up to the $72,000 level to ensure that even lower-level department heads make more than all department deputies.
The public may comment on the proposed pay levels at a Salary Commission meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in conference rooms 2A and B in the Mo'ikeha Building. Comments also may be faxed to (808) 241-6877 or e-mailed to stamashiro@kauaigov.com. Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808)245-3074.
