A living wage ordinance requires governments and their service contractors to pay a living wage to their employees. This ensures that a full time worker supporting a family of four will earn an income above the federal poverty level.

Living wage ordinances benefit workers, businesses and the entire community.

• Workers are able to lift themselves and their families above the federal poverty level, achieve self-sufficiency and eliminate their reliance on publicly funded social services.

• Businesses have lower employee turnover, higher productively and higher moral.  Further, they will compete on a level playing field for government contracts as all businesses competing for government funds will be required to pay their employees a living wage.

• The community will benefit from a higher quality of service, a reduction in the need for social service programs and a reduction in number of families living below the poverty line.