A subcommittee of the Honolulu Salary Commission is recommending that the mayor, City Council and most department heads receive a 3.5 percent increase over their current pay starting July 1.

Under the proposal, the mayor’s salary would increase to $186,424 from $180,120; most Council members’ pay would rise to $68,906 from $66,576; and most department heads would see their pay increased to $166,552 from $160,920.

The highest-paid person would continue to be the medical examiner at $310,202, up from $299,712. The only person being recommended by the subcommittee for a raise higher than 3 percent is the deputy medical examiner, who would see a 13.85 percent jump to $273,021 from $239,808.

Others who would see increases: the police chief, to $205,799 from $198,840; the Honolulu prosecuting attorney, to $176,687 from $170,712; and the corporation counsel, to $171,346 from $166,552. City attorneys, all of whom serve at the will of the prosecuting attorney or corporation counsel, would also see 3.5 percent raises.

To see the full report, go to bit.ly/hnlsalary comm040219.

Most of the same executives received a 4 percent increase July 1.

Commission Chairman Kevin Sakamoto said he believes the proposed recommendations are fair. The group considered comparable salaries paid to other state and city appointed and elected officials, increased pay for civil servants, “inversion” issues where department heads are paid less than their top division chiefs, the consumer price index and other factors.

“Coming from the private sector, the increase level is in line with our merit system,” Sakamoto said. “In addition, through my non-profit board representation I am very familiar with the financial challenges facing our community. Nearly 50 percent of the households are deemed ALICE (asset-limited income-constrained employed). Therefore, I feel comfortable the recommendation balances the interests of many stakeholder groups.”

Mayor Kirk Caldwell had asked that the commission consider higher raises: a 2.25 percent salary “adjustment” and an additional 2 percent step increase, essentially a 4.25 percent increase.

The subcommittee also rejected a recommendation by Caldwell to allow civil service employees to keep their pay if they accept a job as a department head or deputy that would pay them less.

The full Salary Commission is scheduled to discuss the proposal in the City Council committee room on the second floor of Honolulu Hale at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The City Council gets the final vote on the pay scale but is only allowed to approve or reject it by a three-fourths majority. Failure to vote either way results in it becoming law July 1.

The state Salary Commission is recommending state lawmakers receive a 10 percent increase in 2021.