HILO >> Eleven high-ranking officers in the Hawaii County Police Department earn more money than the deputy police chief would make, Police Commissioner Dwight Manago told the Hawaii County Salary Commission yesterday. Low pay leaves key
Big Island jobs vacantSome county officials make an
appeal for additional fundingBy Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.comThe result is that none of them want the deputy's job, and the position has been vacant for 15 months, Manago said.
Chief James Correa earns about $69,000 a year. One of his assistant chiefs, two levels below him, will soon get a raise to $88,000 a year, Manago said.
The Salary Commission should raise department heads' pay and let the County Council find the money to pay them, he said.
The commission wrestled with pay inequities yesterday, knowing there is no money for raises.
County Finance Director Bill Takaba said the county will be $10.5 million short of the $201 million it needs in 2002-2003.
The county is trying to get more money by collecting delinquent taxes and closing tax loopholes, Takaba said. But in the broader picture, the county may have to increase taxes or reduce services, which could mean furloughing employees or laying them off, he said.
The county's prosecutors and civil lawyers are also in a bind. The pay of deputies in those offices cannot be raised higher than 90 percent of the $74,000 that Prosecutor Jay Kimura earns.
Deputy Corporation Counsel Craig Masuda asked the commission to raise Kimura's pay so that others' can be raised.
Otherwise, experienced people may go to private law firms where they can earn more, Masuda said.
Hawaii County
