Comm. No. 25-05.08 From Del H. Otsuka in Opposition of the Proposed Salary Increases and Commenting on the Proposed Findings of Fact

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RC VD ` .'4."eM,f Fc P any`_,S d'j'u2 DEC-s i'��-HR:4 • Dell Otsuka Hilo, Hawai'i 96720-4833 December 20, 2025 Steven Pavao, Chair Hawai'i County Salary Commission 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 2 Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 Testimony to the Hawai'i County Salary Commission Subject: Proposed Salary Increases for Elected and Appointed Officials-OPPOSED Agenda item 6 Unfinished Business (for discussion and appropriate action) Communication No. 25-05.01: Proposed Findings Of Fact By The 2025 County of Hawaii Salary Commission, Dated August 28, 2025 Good Morning Chair, Commissioners, Counsel and Secretary, Thank you for the opportunity to submit this written testimony for the record. Again and still, I offer these comments in the spirit of transparency, prudence, and continued public confidence in the Commission's work, particularly as this Commission considers proposed salary adjustments for its highest-level elected and appointed officials. Charter Process and Voting Thresholds I respectfully wish to note Section 13-28(f) of the Hawai'i County Charter, which provides that any salary adjustment exceeding ten percent requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the entire membership of the Salary Commission. As the Charter does not distinguish between single-year and cumulative multi-year adjustments, I encourage clarity on how this provision is being interpreted and documented in the Commission's findings, particularly where adjustments may accrue over multiple years.