County Council reviews of 11 department heads began last year and collectively drew more than 100 testifier, hourslong meetings over many days and sometimes combative questioning by council members.

The volunteer commission charged with determining compensation for county leaders took action during its regular meeting Friday morning on salaries for the directors and deputy directors of those 11 departments, after many months of employee interviews and deliberations.

With a vote of five in favor, one abstaining and three absent, the panel set the increase for the department directors, deputy directors and county auditor, and made them retroactive to Jan. 1. The vote impacts about two dozen directors and deputy directors who are among the highest paid county leaders. The group last received an increase of 3 percent on Jan. 1, 2019.

The highest paid directors are Corporation Counsel Moana Lutey and county Prosecutor Don Guzman, who would see their salaries grow from $146,575 annually to $149,507.

The lowest paid director included this batch of raises was Transportation Director Marc Takamori, who will see his pay increase to $126,386.

Commission members said they arrived at the cost-of-living increase based on federal Bureau of Labor statistics that show Honolulu’s wage earners now need 1.7 percent more to keep up with area prices. The Maui commission then bumped its cost-of-living raise to 2 percent, citing higher local housing costs.

Chairwoman Kelly Swanson said Realtors Association of Maui statistics put Maui’s housing prices at the highest in the state.

“Knowing how difficult it is for our people to afford mortgages and then to take these positions for the county to help us all have better, smoother lives, we want to make sure they are able to pay their mortgage, too,” she said after the meeting.

Gladys Baisa, Mayor Michael Victorino’s community liaison and commission support staff member, said that while it’s helpful to compare salaries from other islands, Maui County is the only county with more than one island.

“When I sat on the commission many years ago, we looked at the other islands, but we also decided that Maui County is unique,” she said. “And this tri-island county thing is a challenge that nobody else has.”

Commission members also wrestled with the impact of the new vetting process on potential department head candidates, saying the process is a job deterrent. They mulled whether increasing salaries could incentivize positions, later conceding that it likely would not.

In responding to a commissioner’s question, testifier Kyle Ginoza, who holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, confirmed he was sought out to apply to lead the Department of Public Works.

The former director of the Environmental Management Department seriously contemplated the job, Ginoza said, adding that salary wasn’t “an important driver” but that public service was. However, he declined to apply due to the new confirmation process.

“I just didn’t want to put myself through that. I knew it would be personal, and just very, like how it was,” he testified. “And I didn’t want to put my family through that. If it wasn’t, I would have probably gone through the process and been a director, if asked. I don’t think your (Salary Commission) role by itself will necessarily attract better people.”

Later in the meeting, commissioner Paul Kaiiponi suggested formalizing the panel’s stance in a letter to the council to point out that the vetting process is affecting hiring, which is in the panel’s “direct purview.”

After the meeting, Swanson added that the vetting process is making the commission’s role “a bit more difficult.”

“From what we’ve heard with testimony from the directors who went through that process, it was brutal, and it’s enough to deter people from wanting to be up for these positions or take these positions,” she said. “We would certainly like to see that process run a little smoother and be something that doesn’t scare qualified candidates from directing departments in our county.”

Voters approved a charter amendment in 2016 that called for the council to confirm the mayor’s nominations for 11 department directors, including the managing director. Prior to the amendment, the council only had oversight over corporation counsel, county prosecutor and water supply director.

At its next monthly meeting in March, the commission will discuss and take possible action on salaries for the mayor and council members. The panel had voted against increases early last year and deferred the items until more research could be done.

The mayor’s pay was last increased July 1, 2016, by 12 percent to $151,979.

Council members and chairperson last saw a raise in 2013, when their pay was hiked 15 percent to current rates. Council members earn $76,475 with the chair receiving $82,225.

Prior to 2013, their last bump had been in 2007.

* Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@mauinews.com.

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THE RAISES

This table shows old salaries and the 2 percent increase approved by the Salary Commission on Friday retroactive to Jan. 1.

Department of the Corporation Counsel

Corporation counsel $146,575 $149,507

First deputy $139,246 $142,031

Environmental Management

Director $143,409 $146,277

Deputy $129,069 $131,650

Finance

Director $135,052 $137,753

Deputy $121,546 $123,977

Housing and Human Concerns

Director $131,602 $134,234

Deputy $118,442 $120,811

Management

Director $145,798 $148,714

Deputy $131,218 $133,842

Parks and Recreation

Director $132,398 $135,046

Deputy $119,159 $121,542

Planning

Director $134,654 $137,347

Deputy $121,189 $123,613

Prosecuting Attorney

Prosecutor $146,575 $149,507

First Deputy $139,246 $142,031

Public Works

Director $143,409 $146,277

Deputy $129,069 $131,650

Transportation

Director $123,908 $126,386

Deputy $111,517 $113,747

Water Supply

Director $139,961 $142,760

Deputy $124,927 $127,426

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