Proposed Findings of Fact by the 2023 County of Hawaii Salary Commission Dated October 12, 2023

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Hawaii County Dept. of Human Resources 10/16/2023 01:19:37 PM PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT BY THE 2023 COUNTY OF HAWAII SALARY COMMISSION DATED OCTOBER 12, 2023 Pursuant to Section 13-28 of the County Charter for the County of Hawaii Charter (2022), as amended (hereinafter "Charter"), the County of Hawaii Salary Commission (hereinafter "COH Salary Commission") hereby makes the following findings in support of its decision to adjust the salaries and salary schedules of elected and appointed officials of the County of Hawaii to be effective January 1, 2024: 1. The COH Salary Commission has the authority to review and set compensation for all county executive positions, elected positions and appointed positions of directors and deputy directors (collectively hereinafter "Covered Positions") so that their total compensation and benefits have an equitable and reasonable relationship to compensation in the public and private sectors. 2. The COH Salary Commission has not reviewed and adjusted the compensation for any Covered Positions since March 1, 2018. The base compensation for these positions has remained unchanged and frozen at the same 2018 base salary. Individuals occupying these positions have not received either a cost of living adjustment or any increase in their pay for five consecutive years. Meanwhile employees covered by the collective bargaining process have received contractually agreed upon adjustments and raises in their compensation during the period from 2018-2023. This situation has created unfairness and inequity in the compensation for the Covered Positions. In accordance with the Charter and Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92, the COH Salary Commission's meetings held on June 8, 2023, July 11, 2023, August 4, 2023, and September 7, 2023, and October 12, 2023; were duly noticed and afforded opportunities for public comment and testimony was received. 4. To facilitate and assist in its review of compensation for the Covered Positions, and as required by the Charter, the COH Salary Commission consulted with those boards and commissions which have appointing authority for department heads, specifically, it solicited input from the Police Commission, Fire Commission, and Merit Appeals Board. The COH Salary Commission also afforded the Mayor of the County of Hawaii and all Covered Positions to submit input and/or recommendations for the COH Salary Commission to consider. The COH Salary Commission also considered all testimony both written and oral received to date, the cost -of -living index from 2018 through 2023, the purchasing price of a dollar in 2023, historical salary data, salaries of excluded managers within the County of Hawaii, the schedule of raises for both included and excluded subordinates over the past five years, challenges with recruitment for positions within the County of Hawaii, the duties and responsibilities of the Covered Positions with the County of Hawaii, salaries of the Covered Positions' counterparts in other