Hawai‘i’s four mayors said today they don't need to furlough county workers in the fiscal year beginning July 1 and want to pursue a separate approach to public worker union contracts than Gov. Linda Lingle's plan..

“We have balanced budgets for next year,” said Ken Nakamatsu, Honolulu director of human resources. Those budgets do not include the need for furloughs, layoffs or pay cuts, he said.
However, “we’re reserving the option to then negotiate with the unions any approproiate actions” in the second year of the contract. Such actions may include proposing furloughs, layoffs and pay cuts, Nakamatsu said.
Lingle has said she wants to furlough state employees three days a month for the next two fiscal years, which would cut salaries by about 14 percent and save the state about $688 million to help with a budget deficit.
“Since the counties receive revenue from sources that differ from the state, it makes sense that the counties have a different approach,” said Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares.
Tavares along with Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Hawaii Mayor Billy Kenoi said they have submitted “the counties’ package” for a new public employee contract to Lingle.
Current contracts with the Hawaii Government Employees Association and the United Public Workers end June 30.