HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRC 2022-09 Charter - Salary Commission 4.22.22a.pdfDEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
4444 Rice Street, Suite 300 • Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 96766 • (808) 241-4917 (b) • (808) 241-5127 (f)
An Equal Opportunity Employer
OFFICE OF BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
ELLEN CHING, ADMINISTRATOR
MEMORANDUM
April 22, 2022
TO: Lori Koga, Chair and
Members of the Charter Review Commission
FROM: Ellen Ching, Administrator
RE: Salary Commission’s Charter Amendment proposal, 2nd draft
Background
1.Salary Commission
Ballot Language: Shall the Charter be amended to give the Salary Commission the
authority to establish the salary range for elected and appointed officials?
Purpose: To efficiently establish salaries that attract and retain the “best and the
brightest,” all counties in the State of Hawaii except for Kaua‘i have given their Salary
Commissions the authority to establish the maximum salaries of elected and appointed
officials, which includes department heads and deputies.
Background: Kauai’s Salary Commission currently conducts extensive research and
analysis on salaries of department heads and deputies, but is not authorized to
independently make changes to salary caps. The Salary Commission presents its
research and reports to the County Council for a vote to approve changes to salaries by
resolution. The Salary Commission’s reports include an analysis of the salaries of all
elected and appointed officials in the neighboring counties and the State, the
consumer price index, Kauai County’s economic status and outlook, vacancies, and
salaries inversions (where a lower ranking position has a higher salary than a higher
ranking position). Salary inversions have been a common and chronic problem in the
County as well as vacancies, recruitment, and retention. This amendment will
empower the Salary Commission to use its expertise to timely address these issues
with a long-term strategy within the context of the current economic conditions.
CRC 2022-09
ARTICLE XXIX
SALARY
COMMISSION
Section 29.01. Organization. There shall be a salary commission composed of seven members
to establish the maximum salaries of all elected and appointed officers as defined in 23.01 D of
this charter. (Amended 1988, 2006, 2012)
Section 29.02. Policies. The commission shall adopt and, when it deems necessary, may
change the policies governing its salary-setting decisions. (Amended 1988, 2006)
Section 29.03. Resolution. The commission’s salary findings shall be adopted by resolution of
the commission and forwarded to the mayor and the council on or before March 15 of any
calendar year. [The resolution shall take effect without the mayor’s and council’s concurrence
sixty days after its adoption by the commission unless rejected by a vote of not less than five
members of the council. The council may reject either the entire resolution or any portion of
it.] The resolution shall take effect on July 1 of the same calendar year. The respective
appointing authority may set the salary of an appointee at a figure lower than the maximum
figure established by the salary commission for the position, provided that elected officers may
voluntarily accept a salary lower than the maximum figure established by the salary commission
for their position, or forego accepting a salary. (Amended 1988, 2006, 2012)
Section 29.04. Rules. The commission shall establish its rules of procedures and adopt rules
and regulations pursuant to law. (Amended 1988, 2006)
Section 29.05. Changes in Salary. No change in the salary of councilmembers shall be effective
during the term in which a change is enacted or for twenty-four months after a change is enacted,
whichever is less. (Amended 1988, 2006)
Section 29.06. Administration and Operation. The mayor and council shall provide an annual
appropriation sufficient to enable the commission to secure clerical or technical assistance and pay
other operational costs in the performance of its duties. (Amended 1988, 2006, 2012)
Note: Charter material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New charter material is
underscored.