Laserfiche WebLink
Salary Commission November 17, 2025 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MS. CABANAS: Three minutes. Okay. I’m here to represent the Merit Appeals Board of <br />which I am the Chair, and I have been the Chair for the last five years—I have one year more to <br />go. <br /> <br />We sent in a written recommendation to all of you and it was for a 5% pay increase for every <br />year. So, it would total 20%. And the reason it’s 5% for every year, the Merit Appeals Board <br />wanted me to come today and explain why 5%. It was to provide more of a cushion between the <br />department head and the managers because the managers salaries are set with input from the <br />Department of Human Resources, but it’s set by the Mayor’s Office—it’s through Executive <br />Order. <br /> <br />And we didn’t want to have that inversion of managers coming close or superseding the <br />department head’s salary. Now, we noticed it’s a four-year contract for the lower-level positions <br />and there’s two pay increases for 2026. The first pay increase that you folks have established is <br />for January 1—that’s to make up for the year 2025, right. <br /> <br />stst <br />And then, the second pay increase is July 1, 2026. And then, move it forward July 1, 2027— <br />st <br />and then the last on 2000—July 1, 2028—and then, that would take care of it. So, it would be a <br />total of 20%. <br /> <br />The Merit Appeals Board members are Daniel “Niel” Thompson—Niel Thomas, <br />Gilbert Aguinaldo, Suzi Bond is our Vice-Chair, and myself. We have one vacant position we’re <br />waiting for the Mayor’s Office to nominate someone. <br /> <br />So, that was basically our justification to all of you. And, sorry, our meeting date came after <br />your meeting, so that’s why we were more on the later side to submit our written <br />recommendation to all of you. <br /> <br />So, I’ll close with that. If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them. If not, mahalo. <br />Like I said, you have a very complicated—it’s very complicated. And the public, they don’t like <br />to hear the word “pay increases”—I get it. Nobody wants pay increases when taxes might go <br />up—I’m not saying that’s going to happen—but in their mind, that’s what they think. <br /> <br />So, again, mahalo, and best wishes to all of you. <br /> <br />CHR. PAVAO: Thank you. Okay, so we’ll—okay, then we’ll adjourn the public hearing— <br />yeah, nobody in Kona to testify, right? <br /> <br />MR. RUEDY: That is correct. No testimony here in Kona. <br /> <br />Page 10 <br /> <br /> <br />