As a result of poor administrative management our County has lost large sums of money in fines and mishandled projects. And yet there is a request to increase the salaries of top administration officials. There is an accepted and standard
As a result of poor administrative management our County has lost large sums of
money in fines and mishandled projects. And yet there is a request to increase
the salaries of top administration officials.
There is an accepted and
standard practice for determining the appropriate salaries of non-union
personnel. This is the benchmark system of comparing the salaries of an
equivalent position in three counties with the same population as Kaua’i
outside of Hawaii.
Using the salary scale of our neighbor islands cannot
be used. These islands have much larger populations which can spread the tax
base. If we pay equivalent salaries, we will pay higher taxes, and renters will
pay higher rents.
In comparison, our County administration has less
responsibility than most Mainland counties since it does not manage or support
schools and libraries.
Furthermore, the money spent promoting tourism is
highly questionable since there is no hard evidence to substantiate its
specific effect by direct tracking from targeted areas. Hotels, airlines and
travel agencies probably contribute more to developing our travel base.
Another standard in government operations with the budgeting system used in
Kaua’i is the awarding of the top 25 percent of a salary based upon
performance. The County Council should establish goals and objectives which it
wants to see accomplished.
At the end of the fiscal year the remaining
salary would be awarded according to the amount of accomplishment.
The
cure for many of our recent problems would be to have a hired county manager
rather than a political office of mayor. In the meantime, taxpayers and renters
should write to the Council and appear at their budget hearing on May 3.
Should our civil servants be paid higher salaries than the average hard-working
resident? Should we continue to pour money into tourism promotion without clear
evidence of benefit? Should our taxes be raised again, or should we demand a
leaner, more efficient and more accountable government?
Frederick Wells,
Kapa’a
