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<br /> <br /> <br />Page 13 <br />1 <br />MR. HIGGINS: Yeah. Well, if that continues <br /> <br />2 <br />the way it's going, at 50 to 63 percent, that's rather <br /> <br />3 <br />substantial. <br /> <br />4 <br />MS. SAKO: Uh-hmm. <br /> <br />5 <br />MR. HIGGINS: It, obviously, cannot continue. <br /> <br />6 <br />MS. SAKO: Right. And I think the State knows <br /> <br />7 <br />that as well 'cause, you know, one of the our <br /> <br />8 <br />situations is that we're mandated to participate in <br /> <br />9 <br />ERS and EUTF and all the state programs but, yet, we <br /> <br />10 <br />don't have representation on their board. So, you <br /> <br />11 <br />know, from that 50 to 63 percent, you know, we've gone <br /> <br />12 <br />through substantial increases in the employees' <br /> <br />13 <br />retirement system rates. And so, because of that, <br /> <br />14 <br />that's a significant portion of that. But we're also <br /> <br />15 <br />very, you know, we're -- are a people-driven business. <br /> <br />16 <br />We have police officers and firefighters and all of <br /> <br />17 <br />that. So, salaries and wages will always be a <br /> <br />18 <br />significant portion of the budget. <br /> <br />19 <br />MR. HIGGINS: Yeah. What's your guess on our <br /> <br />20 <br />63 percent, how does that compare to other <br /> <br />21 <br />jurisdictions -- the other counties, what do you <br /> <br />22 <br />think? <br /> <br />23 <br />MS. SAKO: I can see if we compared that. I <br /> <br />24 <br />would guess in Hawai ʻ i we're all relatively the same. <br /> <br />25 <br />Just because we have to pay the same ERS rates, we <br />ISLAND COURT REPORTING & TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES <br /> <br />(808) 933-9800 <br /> <br />