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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-17 Notice of Public Hearing Proposed Findings of Fact by the 2025 CoH Salary Commission, Dated August 28, 2025 COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT BY THE 2025 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI SALARY COMMISSION DATED AUGUST 28, 2025 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to §204-2, Title IV – Rules of the County of Hawaiʻi Salary Commission, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the County of Hawai‘i Salary Commission for the purpose of considering proposed Findings of Fact in support of its decision to adjust the salaries and salary schedules of elected and appointed officials of the County of Hawaiʻi, set forth as “Exhibit A” (attached hereto), to be effective January 1, 2026. Date: November 17, 2025 (Monday) Time: 10:00 a.m. Place: Hilo Council Chambers, Hawai‘i County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, First Floor, Room 1401, Hilo Public Attendance via Videoconference is available at the following location: Kona Council Office, West Hawai‘i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Building A, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi Commission members will participate in-person, via ZOOM, or by teleconference. Members of the public may attend this hearing either in-person, at the hearing location, or via ZOOM. For access to the hearing via ZOOM, please contact Glynis Yamada at Glynis.Yamada@hawaiicounty.gov or (808) 961-8361, or by checking the November 17, 2025, agenda. Anyone wishing to testify orally via ZOOM, please sign up by 12 noon, Friday, November 14, 2025, by contacting Glynis Yamada. The hearing shall be automatically recessed for up to thirty (30) minutes to restore communication when audiovisual communication cannot be maintained with all members participating in the hearing and with the in-person location identified in this notice. The hearing may reconvene when either audiovisual communication is restored, or audio-only communication is established after an unsuccessful attempt to restore audiovisual communication. If it is not possible to reconvene the hearing as provided in this section within thirty (30) minutes after an interruption to communication, the hearing shall be automatically terminated. All persons desiring to express their views on the above matter may do so orally at the hearing and can register with the Salary Commission staff or may submit written testimony at or before the hearing. Individuals presenting oral testimony will be given 3-minutes to express their views; however, subject to the Chair, may have an opportunity to extend beyond this time period. Public testimony may also be submitted before 12:00 noon on Friday, November 14: (1) By mail to the Salary Commission at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 2, Hilo, Hawai‘i, 96720; (2) By facsimile to (808) 961-8617; or (3) By email to Glynis.Yamada@hawaiicounty.gov. All written, emailed, and oral submissions shall be fully considered and included in the record of the hearing. Copies of the proposed Findings of Fact is available for public inspection at the Office of the Mayor and Office of the County Clerk, at 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Copies of this notice and the proposed Findings of Fact may also be reviewed in person or purchased at the Department of Human Resources located at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 2, Hilo, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or online at www.hawaiicounty.gov/human-resources, or by mail upon request. Copies cost $1.00 for the first page and 10 cents for each additional page plus postage, and will be mailed to interested persons after payment is received for copy and postage fees. For further information, please call (808) 961-8361. The meeting places are accessible for persons with disabilities. If special accommodations for the hearing are needed, please make all requests at least ten business days prior to the hearing by calling (808) 961-8361. Relay users please call (711) 961-8361 to contact our office. Duly Submitted By: STEVEN PAVAO, CHAIR SALARY COMMISSION West Hawai‘i Today: October 11, 2025 (Saturday) Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald: October 12, 2025 (Sunday) Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT BY THE 2025 COUNTY OF HAWAII SALARY COMMISSION DATED AUGUST 28,2025 Pursuant to Section 13-28 of the County Charter for the County of Hawai`i Charter(2024), as amended(hereinafter"Charter"),the County of Hawai`i 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 Hawai`i to be effective January 1, 2026: 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. Historically, the salaries established by the COH Salary Commission have been indexed to the increases given to County of Hawai`i employees in Collective Bargaining Units 11 (HFFA), 12 (SHOPO), and 13 (HGEA-Professional and Scientific Employees) (collectively hereinafter, "BUs") and the various managerial employees who are excluded from collective bargaining(collectively hereinafter"Excluded Managers"),but whose salaries are tied to the BUs. 3. After its July 2024 5%pay increase, the COH Salary Commission deferred further salary increases to afford the collective bargaining units to negotiate contracts. HGEA negotiated the following raises for its members in bargaining unit 13 for the next four years: Year One: 3.5%increase,Year Two: 3.79%increase,Year Three: 4%increase and Year Four: 4%increase. 4. In accordance with the Charter and Hawai`i Revised Statutes Chapter 92,the COH Salary Commission held a meeting on August 28,2025 and will hold meetings on November 17, 2025 and December 22, 2025. These meetings were duly noticed and afforded opportunities for public comment and testimony was received. 5. 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 Hawai`i 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, current cost-of-living index information,the purchasing price of a dollar in 2025,the March 3, 2025 Classification and Compensation Study conducted by MGT for the County of Maui,historical salary data, salaries of excluded managers within the County of Hawai`i, the schedule of raises for both included and excluded subordinates over the past five years, challenges with recruitment for positions within the County of Hawai`i, the duties and responsibilities of the Covered Positions with the County of Hawai`i, salaries of the Covered Positions' counterparts in other county jurisdictions within the State, inversion challenges, and other public and private industry data. 6. The COH Salary Commission acknowledges that interest arbitrations are currently pending for employees in Bargaining Units 11, 12, and 15, and any pay raises for contract period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029 have not yet been finally determined. Employees whose positions are included in or indexed to BU 13 are set to receive a cumulative total of 15.29%in salary increases for the period July 1,2025 through June 30, 2029. Covered Positions have not and currently are not scheduled to receive any increase in salaries since July 1, 2024. 7. The COH Salary Commission considered all the above information and determined it was necessary to be competitive with the current compensation of Covered Positions to ensure the County's ability to both retain and recruit qualified employees. 8. The COH Salary Commission notes that Department Heads and Deputy Department Heads may suffer from salary"inversion"where subordinate Civil Servant and/or Excluded Manager employees are paid higher salaries than the Department Heads and Deputy Department Heads who supervise them and oversee their work. This inversion provides a disincentive for experienced Civil Servants and/or Excluded Managers to step into Department Head and Deputy Depaianient Head positions when they are vacated and makes it difficult for the Mayor and appointing boards and commissions to appoint or promote experienced employees from within the County of Hawai`i or to recruit qualified candidates for employment. The COH Salary Commission considered inversion information,which compared base salaries that did not also include other forms of monetary compensation, such as overtime pay and step increases. None of the Covered Positions are eligible for overtime pay or step increases. 9. To keep pace with CPI inflation rates,pay increases granted to BU 13 employees, and to avoid further inversion scenarios where Civil Servants and/or Excluded Managers may be paid more than their Department Head and Deputy Department Heads,the COH Salary Commission concludes that the following annual salary adjustments in base salary for Covered Positions are necessary and appropriate: Year One: 3.5% effective January 1, 2026 or on the first day of the month following the COH Salary Commission's final approval,Year Two: 3.79% on July 1,2026,Year Three: 4% on July 1, 2027, and Year Four: 4% on July 1, 2028. These adjustments are consistent with the wages paid to other County of Hawai'i employees in collective bargaining units who receive across the board pay increases, step movements, and overtime. It shall be implemented and is consistent with the principles of adequate compensation for work performed and preservation of a reasonable relationship to compensation in the public and private sectors, as the COH Salary Commission is directed to do by Section 13-28 of the Charter. A table of the recommended salary increases as set forth in this section are attached hereto as Exhibit 10. The COH Salary Commission strongly recommends that this Commission meet annually, before the budget cycle begins, and make the appropriate adjustments going forward. 11. On August 28, 2025, the COH Salary Commission acknowledged its charge pursuant to the Charter is to review and compensate all County elected officials and appointed Department Head and Deputy Department Heads so that their total salaries and benefits have a reasonable relationship to compensation in the public and private sectors. The COH Salary Commission approved these Proposed Findings of Fact on September 24, 2025 recommending the salary adjustments for FY 2026-2029 for Covered Positions as further detailed in Exhibit"A", and will hereafter ensure publication at least once in two daily newspapers of general circulation, submit said Proposed Findings of Fact to the Office of the County Clerk and the Office of the Mayor for public inspection and will hold a public hearing on these Proposed Findings of Fact on a date to be announced in the aforementioned newspaper publication. Any adjustment that increases or decreases any salary by more than ten percent shall require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the entire membership of the COH Salary Commission. Following public hearing, the COH Salary Commission may vote to approve the recommended salary increases attached hereto as Exhibit"A" at its next duly scheduled and noticed meeting. 12. The COH Salary Commission is comprised of volunteer commissioners who are mindful of current economic conditions and anticipated concerns of the public. The COH Salary Commission balanced such against their obligation to set salaries consistent with the principles of adequate compensation for work performed while preserving a reasonable relationship between the salaries it sets for Covered Positions so that their total salaries and benefits have a reasonable relationship to compensation in the public and private sectors, mindful that the salaries of other County of Hawai'i employees have regular salary increases. 13. The COH Salary Commission is aware that salaries offered for equivalent work in the private sector may be higher than that offered by the County of Hawai`i. The COH Salary Commission also notes that other employees may continue to make higher wages based on their ability to receive overtime pay. The COH Salary Commission's intent is to bring Covered Positions up to a fair and equitable salary consistent with these Proposed Findings of Fact to facilitate recruitment and retention of qualified Covered Positions. The above Findings of Fact will be available for public inspection at the Office of the County Clerk and the Office of the Mayor as required by Section 13-28(e) of the Hawai`i County Charter. Base 3.5% Base Compensation Increase Compensation Position as of Jan.1,2025 eff.Jan.1,2026 eff.Jan.1,2026 Mayor 209,028 7,320 216,348 Managing Director 197,496 6,924 204,420 Deputy Managing Director 170,676 5,976 176,652 Prosecuting Attorney 197,004 6,900 203,904 First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney 187,668 6,576 194,244 Fire Chief 194,400 6,804 201,204 Deputy Fire Chief 184,680 6,468 191,148 Chief of Police 197,052 6,900 203,952 Deputy Chief of Police 187,668 6,576 194,244 Corporation Counsel 197,004 6,900 203,904 Assistant Corporation Counsel 187,668 6,576 194,244 Director of Human Resources 165,384 5,796 171,180 Deputy Director of Human Resources 157,668 5,520 163,188 Director of Environmental Management 170,676 5,976 176,652 Deputy Director of Environmental Management 162,540 5,700 168,240 Director of Finance 170,652 5,976 176,628 Deputy Director of Finance 162,516 5,700 168,216 Housing Administrator 162,540 5,700 168,240 OSCER Administrator 162,540 5,700 168,240 Director of Planning 170,676 5,976 176,652 Deputy Director of Planning 162,540 5,700 168,240 Director of Public Works 170,460 5,976 176,436 Deputy Director of Public Works 162,348 5,688 168,036 Director of Parks and Recreation 165,540 5,796 171,336 Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation 157,668 5,520 163,188 Director of Information Technology 162,540 5,700 168,240 Director of Liquor Control 162,540 5,700 168,240 Director of Research and Development 162,540 5,700 168,240 Deputy Director of Research and Development 146,292 5,124 151,416 County Clerk 162,540 5,700 168,240 Deputy County Clerk 146,292 5,124 151,416 County Auditor 162,540 5,700 168,240 Council Chair 99,024 3,468 102,492 Council Member 90,024 3,156 93,180 I EXHIBIT"A" Base 3.79% Base Compensation Increase eff. Compensation Position as of Jan.1,2026 July 1,2026 eff.July 1,2026 Mayor 216,348 8,208 224,556 Managing Director 204,420 7,752 212,172 Deputy Managing Director 176,652 6,696 183,348 Prosecuting Attorney 203,904 7,728 211,632 First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney 194,244 7,368 201,612 Fire Chief 201,204 7,632 208,836 Deputy Fire Chief 191,148 7,248 198,396 Chief of Police 203,952 7,740 211,692 Deputy Chief of Police 194,244 7,368 201,612 Corporation Counsel 203,904 7,728 211,632 Assistant Corporation Counsel 194,244 7,368 201,612 Director of Human Resources 171,180 6,492 177,672 Deputy Director of Human Resources 163,188 6,192 169,380 Director of Environmental Management 176,652 6,696 183,348 Deputy Director of Environmental Management 168,240 6,384 174,624 Director of Finance 176,628 6,696 183,324 Deputy Director of Finance 168,216 6,384 174,600 Housing Administrator 168,240 6,384 174,624 OSCER Administrator 168,240 6,384 174,624 Director of Planning 176,652 6,696 183,348 Deputy Director of Planning 168,240 6,384 174,624 Director of Public Works 176,436 6,696 183,132 Deputy Director of Public Works 168,036 6,372 174,408. Director of Parks and Recreation 171,336 6,504 177,840 Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation 163,188 6,192. 169,380 Director of Information Technology 168,240 6,384 174,624 Director of Liquor Control 168,240 6,384 174,624 Director of Research and Development 168,240 6,384 174,624 Deputy Director of Research and Development 151,416 5,748 157,164 County Clerk 168,240 6,384 174,624 Deputy County Clerk 151,416 5,748 157,164 County Auditor 168,240 6,384 174,624 1 Council Chair 102,492 3,888 106,380 Council Member 93,180 3,540 96,720 EXHIBIT"A" Base 4% Base Compensation as Increase eff. Compensation Position of July 1,2026 July 1,2027 eff.July 1,2027 Mayor 224,556 8,988 233,544 Managing Director 212,172 8,496 220,668 Deputy Managing Director 183,348 7,344 190,692 Prosecuting Attorney 211,632 8,472 220,104 First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney 201,612 8,076 209,688 Fire Chief 208,836 8,364 217,200 Deputy Fire Chief 198,396 7,944 206,340 Chief of Police 211,692 8,472 220,164 Deputy Chief of Police 201,612 8,076 209,688 Corporation Counsel 211,632 8,472 220,104 Assistant Corporation Counsel 201,612 8,076 209,688 Director of Human Resources 177,672 7,116 184,788 Deputy Director of Human Resources 169,380 6,780 176,160 Director of Environmental Management 183,348 7,344 190,692 Deputy Director of Environmental Management 174,624 6,996 181,620 Director of Finance 183,324 7,344 190,668 Deputy Director of Finance 174,600 6,984 181,584 Housing Administrator 174,624 6,996 181,620 OSCER Administrator 174,624 6,996 181,620 Director of Planning 183,348 7,344 190,692 Deputy Director of Planning 174,624 6,996 181,620 Director of Public Works 183,132 7,332 190,464 Deputy Director of Public Works 174,408 6,984 181,392 Director of Parks and Recreation 177,840 7,116 184,956 Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation 169,380 6,780 176,160 Director of Information Technology 174,624 6,996 181,620 Director of Liquor Control 174,624 6,996 181,620 Director of Research and Development 174,624 6,996 181,620 Deputy Director of Research and Development 157,164 6,288 163,452 County Clerk 174,624 6,996 181,620 Deputy County Clerk 157,164 6,288 163,452 County Auditor 174,624 6,996 181,620 Council Chair 106,380 4,260 110,640 Council Member 96,720 3,876 100,596 EXHIBIT"A" r Base 4% Base Compensation as Increase eff. Compensation Position of July 1,2027 July 1,2028 eff.July 1,2028 Mayor 233,544 9,348 242,892 Managing Director 220,668 8,832 229,500 Deputy Managing Director 190,692 7,632 198,324 Prosecuting Attorney 220,104 8,808 228,912 First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney 209,688 8,388 218,076 Fire Chief 217,200 8,688 225,888 Deputy Fire Chief 206,340 8,256 214,596 Chief of Police 220,164 8,808 228,972 Deputy Chief of Police 209,688 8,388 218,076 Corporation Counsel 220,104 8,808 228,912 Assistant Corporation Counsel 209,688 8,388 218,076 Director of Human Resources 184,788 7,392 192,180 Deputy Director of Human Resources 176,160 7,056 183,216 Director of Environmental Management 190,692 7,632 198,324 Deputy Director of Environmental Management 181,620 7,272 188,892 Director of Finance 190,668 7,632 198,300 Deputy Director of Finance 181,584 7,272 188,856 Housing Administrator 181,620 7,272 188,892 OSCER Administrator 181,620 7,272 188,892 Director of Planning 190,692 7,632 198,324 Deputy Director of Planning 181,620 7,272 188,892 Director of Public Works 190,464 7,620 198,084 Deputy Director of Public Works 181,392 7,260 188,652 Director of Parks and Recreation 184,956 7,404 192,360 Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation 176,160 7,056 183,216 Director of Information Technology 181,620 7,272 188,892 Director of Liquor Control 181,620 7,272 188,892 Director of Research and Development 181,620 7,272 188,892 Deputy Director of Research and Development 163,452 6,540 169,992 County Clerk 181,620 7,272 188,892 Deputy County Clerk 163,452 6,540 169,992 County Auditor 181,620 7,272 188,892 Council Chair 110,640. 4,428 115,068 Council Member 100,596 4,032 104,628 EXHIBIT"A"