The county administration may have to dip into other departments’ funding to find almost $4 million for police raises that weren’t in the budget.
The county administration may have to dip into other departments’ funding to find almost $4 million for police raises that weren’t in the budget.
The raises are the result of collective bargaining at the state level with the State of Hawaii Police Officers union. The amount was decided in arbitration and was agreed upon too late to make it into the current budget that started July 1. But the county has to find the money for this year and for significant raises over the next three fiscal years.
“Other departments will very likely have to take cuts to fund these,” Deputy Finance Director Deanna Sako told the County Council Finance Committee on Tuesday. “We’re looking at all options. We’re looking at a variety of scenarios.”
The raises will cost the county an extra $1.3 million this fiscal year, $3.1 million next year, $4.7 million in the 2015-16 fiscal year and $6.9 million in 2016-17 in wages alone, according to information provided by the Finance Department.
Tallying in benefits and other nonwage costs, the increase spikes to $3.7 million this year, $7.4 million next year, $11.7 million in the 2015-16 fiscal year and $15.3 million in 2016-17.
The arbitration is binding on all parties, but the council is required to approve the funding. The committee unanimously advanced Resolution 142 to the council with a favorable recommendation.
Sako said after the meeting that the administration would wait until all counties have agreed to the contract and the county has closed its books on the last fiscal year, so it will know if there is money left over to put toward the shortfall. That should happen about Oct. 15.
So far, Honolulu and Kauai councils have agreed to fund the increase, said SHOPO President Tenari Maafala. He said Maui is scheduled to take up the issue next week. If the arbitration isn’t backed by the councils, SHOPO will go to litigation, he said.
Entry-level police officers currently are paid about $56,000 to start. The increase will bring that base pay up to $65,000 to $75,000 annually. Officers are also paid a firearm maintenance allowance, hazard pay, stand-by pay and other additions to the salary. A standard of conduct differential pay is included in the mix.
“There is no taking a break when we are police officers,” Maafala said, adding that even off-duty police can be reprimanded for not responding to an emergency.
Council members praised the police for their work and dedication, and reflected on previous years when the state trained officers, who then left for better-paying jobs on the mainland.
“You have our support from the council and the community,” said Council Chairman J Yoshimoto.
Several council members worried that the increased cost of police officers will make it harder to add more patrols to their districts. The most recent budget proposed by Mayor Billy Kenoi and approved by the council added five new police officers each to Puna and Ka‘u districts.
Maafala said the police union had a study done that shows Hawaii County can afford the increases. He said the police officers wanted and deserve more money, but the union tried to be realistic.
“Yes, we’re representing officers that put their lives on the line daily, but we have to be real,” Maafala said.