Honolulu's mayor and dozens of other top officials could soon receive sizable pay hikes under a proposal to be voted on this month.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann's annual pay would climb from $122,000 to $128,100 as part of a package prepared by a special investigative committee.

Hannemann would remain the city's highest-paid official with the 5 percent raise.

But City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle would receive the biggest boost: a 10 percent raise that would increase his salary from $107,850 to $118,635.

For the first time, he would be paid more than most other department heads. But he would still earn less than Police Chief Boisse Correa and Fire Chief Kenneth Silva, whose pay would increase from $119,000 to $126,140 with 6 percent raises.

The committee determined in a report that the prosecutor's raise "is necessary in order to preserve a sensible relationship between that salary and the salaries of other department heads."

Other officials would get raises of from 4.5 percent to 8 percent under the plan, to be considered April 20 by the city's Salary Commission. If approved, the salary increases go into effect July 1 unless the nine-member City Council votes down the package.

The raises would cost taxpayers $233,419 next year.

The commission approved raises of 3 to 5 percent for most of the same officials last year.

Hannemann reviewed the new proposal briefly yesterday but declined to comment in detail.

"It's a difficult time to be talking about pay raises for anybody," he said.

The package comes as Hannemann's proposed city budget includes hefty sewer fee increases that could raise the average monthly bill to more than $90 by 2011.

Many homeowners will also likely see property tax increases this year as assessed values continue to rise, though Hannemann and council members have proposed some tax-relief measures to blunt the impact.

COUNCIL WOULD GET 5%

Commission chairman Guy Tajiri served on the panel that studied pay rates and recommended the compensation package.

"Ultimately, I hope to see the full commission support it and vote for it," he said. He declined to comment further until the commission meets to vote.

City Council members would receive 5 percent raises. Council Chairwoman Barbara Marshall said the various increases looked reasonable.

"They don't seem untoward to me," she said, noting that Honolulu's rising cost of living will essentially offset the lower pay increases.

"A 4 to 5 percent increase is not even keeping up with inflation," Marshall said.

And the higher raises are well-deserved, she said.

"I'm glad they're trying to bring the prosecutor up to speed," Marshall said. "I think the prosecutor has been underpaid."

The Salary Commission can alter the package before forwarding it to the council. If approved by the commission, the raises would take effect in July unless the council rejects the entire proposal. No affirmative council vote is necessary.

"I do feel strongly that the council should follow whatever the Salary Commission decides," Marshall said.

Honolulu voters last year rejected a charter amendment that would have eliminated the council's power to reject raises proposed by the commission.

RANK-AND-FILE IN TALKS

Pay raises for hundreds of unionized rank-and-file city and state workers remain under negotiations.

Firefighters will receive raises of 5 percent per year over four years under a contract reached during arbitration in February.

The state Salary Commission last month recommended to the Legislature raises that would give the governor, lieutenant governor and Cabinet members 5 percent raises each July for three years, then 3.5 percent annual raises from 2010 to 2012.

The governor's salary would increase from $112,000 to $143,748 by 2012, while the lieutenant governor, attorney general and administrative director would all see boosts to $140,220.

The recommendation to consolidate salary tiers for most department heads would mean an almost $40,000 increase over five years for the lowest paid Cabinet members.

By 2012, department heads would earn $133,536, while their deputies would earn between $116,172 to $129,000.

The state commission has also recommended $12,808 raises for legislators on Jan. 1, 2009 and 3.5 percent annual raises from 2010 to 2014.

Unless rejected by the Legislature, representatives and senators would see their salaries climb from $35,900 to $57,852 by 2012 with the House speaker and Senate president maintaining their $7,500 differential.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.