2010-08-19 Cover Story

Cover Story

You Pay The Salaries of Maui County Officials And You Have a Right to Know

August 18, 2010 | 02:49 PM

It's a familiar refrain, especially during election season: "We pay their salaries—they work for us." Usually when people say that, they're talking about high-ranking officials, though of course it's true about all government employees. But what a lot of people don't know is exactly how much they're paying.

Government salaries are public record; however, at the county level the figures aren't available online. That means getting them requires filing a records request, something we realize many don't have the time or inclination to do. So we did it for you.

To be clear, our purpose isn't necessarily to point out who's overpaid or underpaid. We merely want to present this information and let each individual make his or her own judgement.

A few notes: As outlined in the County Charter, the salaries of elected officials and appointed directors are set by the Salary Commission. The salary of the Mayor has not increased since 2007, while the salaries of department directors has remained unchanged since 2009. This fiscal year, the Mayor and all directors are taking a one day per month furlough, equivalent to a 4.6 percent salary reduction (which has been factored into the figures presented here).

***

Mayor Charmaine Tavares
Fiscal year 2011 Salary:

$108,756

Managing Director Sheri Morrison
$104,845

Fire Chief Jeffrey Murray
$100,170

Corporation Counsel Brian Moto
$105,404

Department of Environmental Management Director Cheryl Okuma
$103,127

Department of Finance Director Kalbert Young
$97,117

Department of Housing and Human Concerns Director Lori Tsuhako
$94,637

Department of Liquor Control Director Frank Silva
$92,538

Department of Parks and Recreation Director Tamara Horcajo
$95,209

Department of Personnel Services Director Lynn Krieg
$94,446

Police Chief Gary Yabuta
$107,897

Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Acob
$105,404

Department of Public Works Director Milton Arakawa
$103,127

Department of Transportation Director Don Medeiros
$89,104

Department of Water Supply Director Jeff Eng
$100,647

COUNTY COUNCIL:

Council Chair Danny Mateo
$71,500

Councilmember Mike Molina
$66,500

Councilmember Gladys Baisa
$66,500

Councilmember Jo Anne Johnson
$66,500

Councilmember Sol Kaho'ohalahala
$66,500

Councilmember Bill Medeiros
$66,500

Councilmember Wayne Nishiki
$66,500

Councilmember Joe Pontanilla
$66,500

Councilmember Mike Victorino

$66,500

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Amusing Article
August 20, 2010 | 07:37 PM

Dear Maui Time,

You are by far my favorite local publication. You don't pull punches or pretend to be "politically correct." I think this is one of your best pieces of work. I've paid taxes into our County since I started working in high school, which was about 12 years ago. This might be a contrivercial statement, but I feel comfortable about the directors and especially the Chiefs of Police and Fire, making the amount of money that they do. In fact, I'm surprised they aren't being paid more. I think it's important to keep the pay for these positions competitive, otherwise we would lose quality people to the corporate world. Everyone knows that County workers get paid less than the average corporate or private enterprise worker of similar capacity. Add that to the fact that County workers are completey underappreciated, and no one would ever want to be a County worker, especially a Director or Chief.

The only part of the article that could have improved it would be for you to include all the "perks" that the Council members seem to have. On top of their salaries, some Council members rack up thousands in travel benefits (including per diem while traveling off island.) Not to mention the fact that the Chair Mateo sent out a memo to all of the other departments basically saying that they and their staff will be exempt from the furloughs that even department heads are subjected to. According to our illustrious Chair, they are in control of their own budgets and do not have to account for how they spend their money when it comes to their staff and other expenses.

I think Maui Time should take this article a little deeper and explore the real issue, which is our Council members spending. Did you know that in this tough economic time when we are all suffering cut backs and furloughs, the Council thought it appropriate to present their already overpaid part-time working executive assistants cash bonuses? The only other Council members to receive these cash bonuses were the overworked and underpaid police dispatchers.

At any rate, thank you Maui Time for always keeping it real. I look forward to your next issue!

Pixie Kea
question about county council
May 08, 2012 | 07:44 PM

Hi,

Can you tell me does the County Council, and their employees receive benefits from the County during their times in office, such as medical, retirement, etc.???

henry raymond
waiehu
Maui "humane" society
May 02, 2013 | 08:08 PM

I would like to know how much the CEO of the Maui "humane" society makes, Jocalyn Bouchard. She says they have been running the "shelter" for years losing $300,000 a year, but in 2008 I think, she was making $80,000 a year, what does she make now if the shelter is at -$300,000 a year? Many Thanks for your great work! May 2013

Carolyn Ackerman
Kahului

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