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salaries on the neighbor islands and in similar mainland cities.
<br /> "I a}nderstand the sticker shock of 8 percent,"Buehler said."At the same time we are mandated to pay salaries
<br /> commensurate with(the work)."
<br /> The commission is aware that the proposed salaries still fall below—and sometimes very far below—those of
<br /> similar cities,she said, but she noted that larger raises probably wouldn't be politically palatable.
<br /> j'<tdd-r inic Salary for s'°i'sl j'mc \Vorli
<br /> When Councilman Ron Menor served as a state senator and representative he would have seven to eight months
<br /> off each year when the Legislature wasn't in session.
<br /> This allowed him to supplement his salary through his law practice.
<br /> But since being elected to the City Council,he says he's been too busy to practice law.
<br /> "I served for many years in the state Legislature,and I can tell you that the responsibilities that a City Council
<br /> member has to deal with are far greater than the responsibilities that I had to carry on as a state legislator,"he
<br /> said."This really is a full-time job.We have heavy responsibilities, not just because our districts are much larger,
<br /> but we deal with the issues people are concemed about on a daily basis."
<br /> Menor, and other council members interviewed by Civil Beat,agree that they juggle a full-time workload.The City
<br /> Council meets throughout the year,unlike the Legislature. However,technically it's a part-time position,according
<br /> to the ordinance that created the City Council—and council members are paid accordingly.
<br /> Their annual salary is$52,446,about$3,000 less than state lawmakers.The Salary Commission has suggested
<br /> boosting this by 8 percent to$56,642.
<br /> But this still pales in comparison to other cities. In San Francisco,council members earn nearly double, about
<br /> $105,000 a year. In Seattle they earn$119,876.
<br /> In San Jose,council members earn$81,000.That's the equivalent of earning$90,000 in Honolulu, according to
<br /> CNN's cost of living calculator.
<br /> Buehler said that part of the reason why Honolulu City Council members'salaries are so low, in addition to the
<br /> part-time status, is that the City Council votes down their own raises year after year—out of fear that there would
<br /> be political repercussions.
<br /> The salary commission is able to look at salaries objectively,she said, but council members"are very aware of the
<br /> fact that if they approve a raise for themselves,they might not get elected next time."
<br /> City Council members haven't received a raise in five years. Those first two years,the Salary Commission didn't
<br /> recommend increases because of the poor economy,said Buehler.
<br /> In rejecting their raises, City Council members are effectively taking salary cuts every year because their earnings
<br /> aren't keeping up with inflation.
<br /> The relatively low salaries do save taxpayers money and the lack of raises prevents council members from getting
<br /> any flack for boosting their own pay, but there are drawbacks. Such low-level salaries likely dissuade some top
<br /> talent from running for the City Council,which wields power over important issues facing the island.
<br /> Low salaries also encourage council members to take on second jobs to get by in one of the most expensive
<br /> cities in the nation.
<br /> Council Chair Ernie Martin has a law practice,for instance, and Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi helps run her
<br /> family's real estate business.
<br /> "I can't afford to live on this salary,"said Kobayashi,who laughed about her staff earning more than she does.
<br /> Even on Maui and Kauai, council members are better paid even though they have a much smaller constituency.
<br /> On Maui the pay is$76,475 and on Kauai council members earn$56,781.
<br /> Many residents of the islands work two or three jobs to get by, but when it comes to the City Council, Councilman
<br /> Joey Manahan noted, it can create conflicts of interest.
<br /> "If you did have a second job,that could conflict with some of the issues that could affect, potentially,the
<br /> decisions that are made at the City Council level,"he said.
<br /> Cities like San Diego prohibit council members from taking any job that would conflict with their elected duties.
<br /> Despite their relatively low pay, Honolulu City Council members are reluctant to go along with the 8 percent salary
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