9 county positions identified for raises

LIHUE — Some county employees may be getting an increase in salaries in the upcoming months.

In January, the Salary Commission set maximum annual salaries for nine county employees and County Council members, which will go into effect in the next fiscal year. The resolution was accepted by the council in February.

But that doesn’t mean the employees will automatically get the maximum amount. The measure simply caps wages and gives the option to raise salaries.

“The respective appointing authority may set the salary of any new or existing non-elected appointee at a figure lower than the figure established for the position,” the resolution reads.

Additionally, elected officers have the option to accept a salary lower than what the Planning Commission proposed. They can also choose not to accept a salary increase at all, according to the resolution.

The Salary Commission set double-digit maximum increases for some positions, like the directors of Housing and Parks and Recreation, and administrator of the Office of Boards and Commissions.

Currently, the salary for the director of Housing is set at $103,041. In this fiscal year, the person in that position has the potential to make $114,582, an increase of over $11,000.

Under the resolution, the deputy director of Parks and Recreation position sees the highest maximum salary increase. Right now, that salary is $98,748, and the Salary Commission set the maximum at $114,582.

The salaries for all of the employees will go into effect July 1.

In January, the Salary Commission also set maximum annual salaries for the councilmembers and council chair. Currently, the council chair’s salary is $63,879, but the commission set a maximum of $71,033.

The salary for councilmembers is currently $56,781. The commission set a maximum of $63,140.

If the councilmembers decide to accept the maximum set, those salaries will go into effect Dec. 1, 2018, at the start of the new term.