Pay raises for dozens of top city officials and attorneys will likely kick in on July 1, following a recommendation in April by the city's Salary Commission.

The raises, from 4.5 percent to 10 percent, will take effect automatically unless at least seven of the City Council's nine members vote to reject them by June 19.

That's not likely, as most council members signaled support for the pay hikes long ago, calling them modest and reasonable.

"I don't think any of the salaries proposed by the Salary Commission are out of line," said council Chairwoman Barbara Marshall. "If we're going to have volunteers come in and analyze salaries and figure out what's fair, then we ought to listen to them."

Comparable jobs in the private sector often pay much more, making it harder for the city to attract a highly skilled workforce, she said.

"We really have to compete if we want quality people in government," Marshall said.

Councilman Charles Djou has introduced a resolution to turn down the $233,000 package, but conceded that his measure has "probably not much better than a snowball's chance in hell."

"The reality is that the raises are going to go through, just as other spending increases are going through," Djou said.

The package includes a raise for Mayor Mufi Hannemann, whose annual pay will climb from $122,000 to $128,100, up 5 percent.

Council members will also get 5 percent raises, boosting their pay from $46,900 to $49,245. The pay for council chair will climb from $52,400 to $55,020.

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

City department directors, their deputies, and the police and fire chiefs and deputies will also get raises.

The pay range available for deputy prosecutors and other city attorneys will increase, but salaries for specific positions are based largely on experience and merit.

Many top state officials will also soon receive raises, since the Legislature did not reject recommendations from the state's salary commission.

Gov. Linda Lingle, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and Cabinet members will receive 5 percent raises.

Additional scheduled raises will boost the governor's salary from $112,000 to $143,748 by 2012, while pay for the lieutenant governor, attorney general and administrative director will increase to $140,220 by then.

State department directors will earn $133,536 by 2012, while their deputies will earn between $116,172 and $129,000.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.