LIST: Proposed pay raise for these city officials

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Honolulu Salary Commission voted unanimously in favor of pay raises for city officials.

There was a lot of protest from the public during the testimony hearing held for these proposed pay raises on March 21, especially because city councilmembers could double their pay.

The commission ended up deciding on a recommendation to increase pay raises for the Honolulu mayor and his deputies and directors by about 12.5%.

The city council had a possibility of doubling its salary but the commission decided on an estimated 60% increase instead.

Currently, city councilmembers make around $69,000 and the council chair makes under $77,000 for what is considered a part-time job.

The salary commission recommended that councilmembers receive $113,000 a year whereas the chair would get $123,000.

The Salary Commission adopted these schedule of salaries listed for the upcoming fiscal year:

• Honolulu mayor: $209,856 
• Council chair: $123,292 
• Council members: $113,292
• Prosecuting attorney: $198,888
• First deputy prosecuting attorney: $189,096
• Managing director: $200,712
• Deputy managing director: $190,296
• Corporation council: $192,864
• First deputy corporation council: $183,220
• Deputy heads: $187,488
• Deputy department heads: $177,888
• Police chief: $231,648
• Deputy police chiefs: $220,944
• Fire chief: $224,304
• Deputy fire chief: $213,912
• Medical examiner: $363,151
• Deputy medical examiner: $354,161
• Band director: $177,888

During the hearing before the recommendations were decided these testimonies were said:

“To actually give councilmembers who are at the office three times a week at the most a lot of them — a 90% pay increase? It’s just ignorance in my opinion and I cannot see that happening,” testified Alfred Medeiros.

“Every day citizens never receive 100% pay increases that’s beyond greedy. It makes you look very corrupt,” testified Jasmine Torres.

“They took pay cuts and they stepped up to the plate at a time when most people didn’t even want to think about what was going to happen,” said Blangiardi. “This was courageous on their part. I’ve been so humbled and inspired by them, and the work that they put in.”

“I think those people deserve a right to move into leadership roles but they’re not gonna move into the leadership rules,” said Mike Formby, city managing director. “If they have to take a pay cut it just doesn’t make sense.”

The mayor testified that they need the pay raise to hold on to workers and attract them as well as keep them within the city.

The commission does plan to send these proposals to the city council who will then vote in favor or against it.