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Committee approves funds to cover negotiated hazard pay for county firefighters, adds $8 million to fringe benefits
Summary
The BFED committee increased its countywide fringe-benefits allocation to cover a negotiated supplemental/hazard pay for the Hawaii Firefighters Association. The committee added $8 million to countywide 'fringe benefits' and left $2 million already in base appropriations, giving the administration flexibility to pay the negotiated amount.
The Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee voted on April 25 to add funds to the countywide fringe benefits line to cover a negotiated temporary hazard-pay package for employees represented by the Hawaii Firefighters Association (HFFA).
During budget deliberations the managing director told the committee the administration and HFFA had reached agreement on a settlement subject to ratification by the union membership. Committee members approved increasing countywide fringe benefits by $8 million and indicated the administration could use those funds to pay the negotiated hazard-pay amount. The mayor had earlier included $2 million in the proposed budget; the committee’s addition brings the total set aside to $10 million.
In committee discussion, Deputy Corporation Counsel Christina Toshikyo and Budget Director Leslie Milner advised that the appropriation should be flexible enough to allow the administration to pay the negotiated sum once ratified and to avoid unnecessarily locking funds into a narrowly worded condition. The committee adopted language clarifying that the funds should be used to pay the negotiated amount for temporary hazard pay for HFFA members, but ultimately members removed explicit dollar-amount language and approved the $8 million increase to the fringe line.
Council member Rose Fernandez recused herself from the vote because her spouse is a firefighter and would benefit from the settlement; the motion passed by the committee on a roll call vote with eight members in favor and one recusal.
The managing director said the administration expects the final amount to be at or below $10 million and will move forward with implementing the supplemental agreement and then seek council authorization if additional funds are required.
Ending — next steps: The administration said it will finalize the hazard-pay agreement with HFFA and present any required implementing documents to council after members ratify the union agreement. Budget staff will track use of the fringe-benefits appropriation and report back if additional appropriations are necessary.
