By NANCY COOK LAUER
By NANCY COOK LAUER
Stephens Media
The county Salary Commission is recommending employee salaries remain at their 2009 levels, but Council Chairman Dominic Yagong says the county could save almost $1 million annually by cutting top salaries 12 percent.
Salary Commission Chairman George Handgis, in a letter Thursday to county department heads, solicited feedback to a status quo salary plan that shows the 40 top positions cost $3.5 million in salaries, not including benefits. The commission plans to review salary-setting procedures at its April 30 meeting.
Although Mayor Billy Kenoi is the county’s chief executive, he’s the fourth-highest paid official, according to information provided by the Salary Commission. His $109,152 annual salary is less than the top-paid official, Police Chief Harry Kubojiri, who makes $114,768, Acting Prosecuting Attorney Charlene Iboshi, whose $113,580 salary is pending a final commission vote, and Deputy Police Chief Paul Ferreira, who makes $109,296.
Kenoi’s four executive assistants make between $76,004 and $85,500.
The Salary Commission in 2009 gave County Council members a 22 percent raise. The council on a 6-2 vote killed Yagong’s attempt to have the raise rescinded.
But even with the raise, council members make between $47,928 to $49,920, depending on tenure, and the chairman makes $54,336. The salary is based on the assumption that being on the council isn’t a full-time job.
Handgis couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon, but Commissioner Brian DeLima said the commission is undertaking a study to evaluate just how much top employees should be paid. He said the old procedure, the automatic step increases that were paid every two years, is simply unworkable. The Salary Commission in 2009 froze the step increases because of the down economy.
“There’s not going to be a rush to do anything. It’s going to be very thoughtful, very deliberative,” DeLima said. “There’s not going to be any effort to increase salaries; if anything there might be a slight decrease.”
DeLima said he’d look at Yagong’s proposal but couldn’t comment on it because he hasn’t seen it.
Yagong, in a response Tuesday to the commission, said the county could save $705,420 annually by cutting 86 top salaries by 9.2 percent and $920,113 by cutting the salaries 12 percent. The 12 percent correlates with a 12 percent reduction in property tax revenues over the past four years. Property tax revenues are expected to drop another 4.2 percent in the budget year that starts July 1.
“I ask the Salary Commission to use this opportunity to help the county administration and County Council set the tone for serious belt tightening in all county departments,” Yagong said.
Kenoi also hadn’t seen Yagong’s proposal Tuesday, but he noted that employees already take monthly unpaid furlough days equivalent to about a 4.5 percent salary reduction.
“Our cost reductions have worked, which is why we have a balanced budget,” Kenoi said. “We’ll continue to hold the line on employee costs, and I look forward to reading more.”
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com