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In the first of two meetings with legislative standing committees, County Administrator Joe Mareane today asked the Legislature’s Budget, Capital, and Personnel Committee to review a recommended approach to examining the County’s Livable Wage policy.  Mareane said his proposal establishes a recommended framework for a constructive discussion that can lead to a workable policy that clearly reflects the values and intent of the Legislature.  The Legislature’s Government Operations Committee considers the matter tomorrow.

Ten years ago, the County adopted a Livable Wage Policy requiring consideration of “the wage levels and benefits, particularly health care, provided by contractors when awarding bids or negotiating contracts, and to encourage the payment of livable wages whenever practical and reasonable.”  Recent questions regarding wage levels paid under a County contract have sparked a discussion regarding whether the current policy should be strengthened and, perhaps, be made mandatory.

The County is a certified Living Wage Employer, with all County employees paid at least the Livable Wage, currently $11.67 per hour for a full-time employee who receives employer-supported health care benefits, or $12.78 per hour for those not provided health care benefits. The local livable wage is calculated by Alternatives Federal Credit Union and adjusted every two years.

The administrator notes that a review of current practice finds that enforcement of the County’s policy has generally been implicit and informal, with contractors encourages to pay the livable way.  While we believe a majority of contractors pay the livable way, we do not have a system to verify that, Mareane told the committee.  He recommends the current policy be revisited to better equip the County to enforce it, and to address basic questions on its implementation—whether the size of the contractor, dollar thresholds, and other special circumstances should affect its requirements.

Mareane is asking that committees review the matter over the next month, then recommends that a small work group be formed to develop specific recommendations—a group that would include leaders of the budget, GO, and Workforce Diversity and Inclusion committees, as well as the County Administrator, Finance Director, County Attorney, and Contracts Manager, as well as representatives of the County’s Human Services and Infrastructure cabinets.  The group would be charged with examining the issue, consulting with stakeholders, and developing a draft resolution to be considered by the two committees and, ultimately by the full Legislature.

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