Quantcast
StarBulletin.com
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Search

HiLife Online

Give us YOUR Weekly Opinion

Reader Poll

How much will you spend on Christmas presents this year?

Sell your stuff in Hawaii classifieds
Subscribe to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Lingle asks to suspend pay raises for leaders

Increasing the salaries of lawmakers, judges and other officials is called "inappropriate"

STORY SUMMARY | READ THE FULL STORY

More than 200 state workers, including 90 judges and 42 administrators, would forgo a pay hike next year under a bill proposed yesterday by Gov. Linda Lingle.

The measure is an attempt to address the state's looming $1.1 billion budget shortfall.

The proposed suspension of pay hikes would save the state $4.1 million over two years, Lingle said. "We are asking our state employee unions to forgo proposing raises in the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations. Thus it is important that state leaders also make sacrifices and lead by example."

The move would affect legislators, 42 executive branch administrators, due for a 5 percent pay hike on July 1, and all state judges, due for a 10 percent raise at the same time.

— Rob Shikina



FULL STORY >>

By Rob Shikina

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 22, 2008

(Single Page View) | Return to Paginated View

Gov. Linda Lingle wants state lawmakers, judges and top administrators to give up their raises for the next two years, saving the state $4.1 million.

WHAT THEY MAKE NOW

Here is a look at some current state government salaries. Most positions are due for a raise July 1:

Chief justice $164,976
Associate justice $159,072
Circuit judges $143,292
District judges $135,048
Governor $123,480
Lieutenant governor $120,444
Department directors $108,960-$120,444 *
House speaker/ Senate president $43,400
Other legislators $35,900

* varies by department

Source: 2007 Commission on Salaries Report

The proposal, which includes a salary freeze for the governor and lieutenant governor, comes as the state is facing a projected $1.1 billion budget shortfall.

Lingle yesterday announced the proposed bill, which must pass the Legislature this session to take effect.

Two hundred and eight people are scheduled to receive salary increases on July 1.

"We are asking our state employee unions to forgo proposing raises in the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations," Lingle said in a news release. "Thus it is important that state leaders also make sacrifices and lead by example.

"At a time when many Hawaii residents are losing their jobs or seeing their salaries frozen or reduced, it would be inappropriate for state leaders to accept pay raises."

Under the proposal, 42 executive branch officials, including Lingle, would give up 5 percent salary increases on July 1 and a 3.5 percent raise on July 1, 2010.

Also affected would be 90 Hawaii Supreme Court justices and state court judges, scheduled for a 10 percent salary increase on July 1 and a 3.5 percent increase July 1, 2010.

All 76 state legislators also would give up 3.5 percent raises Jan. 1, 2010. Lingle will ask lawmakers to forgo a 36 percent raise scheduled for Jan. 1.

In 2006, Hawaii voters passed a constitutional amendment creating a Commission on Salaries to make recommendations for salaries of state leaders. In March the following year, the commission made its salary recommendations for 2009.

Lingle said that when the commission made its recommendation, the "economic and fiscal conditions were much different."

Gov. Linda Lingle wants state lawmakers, judges and top administrators to give up their raises for the next two years, saving the state $4.1 million.


WHAT THEY MAKE NOW

Here is a look at some current state government salaries. Most positions are due for a raise July 1:

Chief justice $164,976
Associate justice $159,072
Circuit judges $143,292
District judges $135,048
Governor $123,480
Lieutenant governor $120,444
Department directors $108,960-$120,444 *
House speaker/ Senate president $43,400
Other legislators $35,900

* varies by department

Source: 2007 Commission on Salaries Report
The proposal, which includes a salary freeze for the governor and lieutenant governor, comes as the state is facing a projected $1.1 billion budget shortfall.

Lingle yesterday announced the proposed bill, which must pass the Legislature this session to take effect.

Two hundred and eight people are scheduled to receive salary increases on July 1.

"We are asking our state employee unions to forgo proposing raises in the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations," Lingle said in a news release. "Thus it is important that state leaders also make sacrifices and lead by example.

"At a time when many Hawaii residents are losing their jobs or seeing their salaries frozen or reduced, it would be inappropriate for state leaders to accept pay raises."

Under the proposal, 42 executive branch officials, including Lingle, would give up 5 percent salary increases on July 1 and a 3.5 percent raise on July 1, 2010.

Also affected would be 90 Hawaii Supreme Court justices and state court judges, scheduled for a 10 percent salary increase on July 1 and a 3.5 percent increase July 1, 2010.

All 76 state legislators also would give up 3.5 percent raises Jan. 1, 2010. Lingle will ask lawmakers to forgo a 36 percent raise scheduled for Jan. 1.

In 2006, Hawaii voters passed a constitutional amendment creating a Commission on Salaries to make recommendations for salaries of state leaders. In March the following year, the commission made its salary recommendations for 2009.

Lingle said that when the commission made its recommendation, the "economic and fiscal conditions were much different."

(Single Page View) | Return to Paginated View



Story tools

Email  Email   Print  Print   Save  Save   Popular  Most Popular   Reprint  Subscribe

Share this story