Panel defers 2% pay hike for mayor, council

Chair: Pandemic ‘not the best time’ for raise

Pointing to economic uncertainty triggered by the pandemic, the Maui County Salary Commission postponed a 2 percent pay hike scheduled to take effect Friday for the mayor, council chair and council members.

The commission, which is charged with determining compensation for county leaders, voted 5-0 on Dec. 18, with three absent, to defer the cost-of-living increase until Dec. 1, 2021, or until further action is taken.

Members had voted in March before the pandemic to approve the raise. The commission in February awarded a 2 percent cost-of-living increase for department directors, deputy directors and the county auditor, and made them retroactive to Jan. 1, 2020.

Commission Chairwoman Kelly Swanson said Thursday that in light of the pandemic and the county's economic situation, the panel felt a raise "wasn't appropriate."

"It's not the best time to increase salaries," she said.

For fiscal year 2020, the mayor received $151,979 and the council chair received $82,225; each council member was paid $76,475, according to the Honolulu Civil Beat Database of Public Employee Salaries.

Chairwoman Alice Lee on Thursday said that although the decision wasn't discussed in committee, she's almost certain all council members would agree with the recommendation.

"With the ongoing high unemployment rate in Maui County, COVID-19 continually casting a shadow of uncertainty over us, a forecast of flat revenues and a myriad of other challenges, it makes fiscal sense not to approve these increases," she said.

Council Member Tasha Kama issued a statement Thursday applauding the commission's recent decision to defer raises.

"The pandemic has thrust us into uncharted waters, and as we contend with the ongoing impacts of the economic crisis we must take action to conserve the resources we have," she said. "This salary deferral is just one step of many we must take together to help ensure continuity of county operations and the well-being of our community."

Swanson noted that the 2 percent increases for the mayor, council chair and council members were set to match those approved to department directors, deputy directors and the auditor.

She said the commission is going to revisit the county's economic situation at the beginning of the year. She added that no decreases or any other actions are on the table.

"There have been no other increases awarded and there are no other increases on the docket at this time," Swanson said. "Our next meeting is scheduled for March after property taxes are due in February to see where the economy stands."

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