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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: May 6, 1997 Re: Comm. No. 200.02 <br /> PLACE: Councilroom <br /> TIME: ]O:SOA.M. <br /> Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 83, reports as follows: <br /> Bill No. 83, transmitted by Prosecuting Attorney Jay T. Kimura and Corporation Counsel <br /> Richard D. Wurdeman, via Communication No. 200.02, dated April ] 7, 1997, amends Chapter 2, <br /> Article 26 of the Hawaii County Code relating to salary grades for deputies in the Office of the <br /> Corporation Counsel and the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. <br /> As stated in Communication No. 200.02, Mr. Kimura and Mr. Wurdeman feel the proposed <br /> amendments will provide the respective department heads the flexibility to reward meritorious <br /> performances, without having to increase salaries across the board. In addition, they feel it will <br /> eliminate differentiation between deputies, based on department, and places them all on equal <br /> footing. Bill No. 83 would hopefully eliminate the ever present danger of unhealthy professional <br /> <br /> jealousy between departments. <br /> Presently, Chapter 2, Article 20, of the Hawaii County Code, states al] deputies shall be placed <br /> into appropriate salary grades and steps (LG-l, LG-2) according to their qualifications and <br /> experience. Advancement within these grades is at the discretion of the appointing authority and <br /> shall be based upon merit principles and governed by the guidelines adopted pursuant to this <br /> article. <br /> The proposed amendment would eliminate salary grades (LG-1) and (LG-2) and allow the <br /> appointing authority to set the salaries for deputies within their offices; provided no deputy shall <br /> be compensated at a rate which is less than fifry percent (50%) or more than ninety percent <br /> (90%) of the salary which has been established for the Prosecuting Attorney or Corporation <br /> Counsel, whichever is higher. The department head shall set the satazy for the individual <br /> deputies based upon the individual's professional experience and performance. <br /> Testimonies were received by deputy prosecuting attorneys in favor of Bill No. 83. <br /> Although a majority of your committee members were in favor of the salary increases, some <br /> members were concerned that the elimination of salary grades would not be equitable and could <br /> potentially create animosity. Your committee voted to pass Bill No. 83, however, amendments <br /> to the Bill may be forthcoming. <br /> FC REPORT NO. 83 <br /> <br />