Akaka sets meetings on altering federal pay
Star-Bulletin staff
A U.S. Senate subcommittee has scheduled public hearings in Hawaii later this month to discuss proposals to phase out cost-of-living adjustments and phase in locality pay for federal employees in Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. territories.
The formal field hearing by the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia is scheduled for May 29 at the Oahu Veterans Center in Honolulu. The subcommittee chairman is U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.
Specialists from relevant agencies and committees will be on hand to go over the various proposals and answer questions at hearings on all islands, Akaka's office said in a news release.
Meetings are scheduled for:
» Hilo: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 27, Department of Labor, Conference Room, 1990 Kinoole St., Hilo.
» Kona: 5 to 7 p.m. May 27, Royal Kona Resort, 75-5852 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona.
» Maui: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 28, Maui Community College, Kalama 103, 310 W. Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului.
» Oahu: 3 to 4:30 p.m. May 29, Oahu Veterans Center, 1298 Kukila St., Honolulu.
» Kauai: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 30, Moikeha Building, 4444 Rice St., Room 2-AB, Planning Commission Room, Lihue.
Since 1948, federal employees in Hawaii, Alaska and U.S. territories have received a COLA, which is not subject to federal or Social Security/ Medicare taxes. The Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 included provisions for "locality pay," which is paid to federal employees on the mainland.
Unlike COLA, locality pay is taxed and considered part of base pay, which is used to calculate an employee's retirement annuity. Though COLA reflects a cost-of-living adjustment, locality pay reflects a comparison of federal salaries with private-sector salaries in specific geographic areas.