Council expected to OK raises for HGEA

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

The City Council is expected to approve pay raises for nearly 3,000 white-collar city workers today despite Mayor Jeremy Harris' objections, and to overturn the veto of a bill that would restrict how city land and buildings are sold.

The raises of up to 9 percent are part of a statewide package awarded to Hawai'i Government Employees Association members through arbitration.

The Legislature last week approved the raises by overturning Gov. Linda Lingle's veto of a bill granting them, but they won't take effect unless each county approves them separately.

The city's share of the package will cost $6.9 million next year, and Harris says the city can't afford the raises. One of the nine council members, Charles Djou, has said he will vote against them.

But council chairman Donovan Dela Cruz, budget chairwoman Ann Kobayashi and others have voiced strong support for the pay hikes. Approval requires at least five votes.

The collective bargaining agreements cover HGEA units 2, 3, 4 and 13 under a contract that extends to June 2005.

The council is also expected to easily overturn the Harris administration's veto of a bill sponsored by Councilman Gary Okino. It would require officials to present a marketing plan and details about how a city property would be used, prior to putting it on the market.

Okino said the bill was largely a response to Harris' proposal to sell several apartment buildings that include many low-income tenants. The council rejected the apartment sales last month and approved Okino's bill unanimously.

City Managing Director Ben Lee, acting as mayor while Harris was on the Mainland last month, said he vetoed Bill 8 because it is "infeasible to implement due to its vague language and convoluted provisions and requirements."

Six votes are required to overturn a veto.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.