On April 12, 2005, the City Council voted to approve the Living Wage Ordinance, requiring above-poverty pay and benefits for workers performing city services.

The measurable human impact is dramatic:
• Almost 1,000 local workers for city contractors in services like landscaping, janitorial services, security and maintenance now earn the Living Wage, which is $27,456 a year for a full-time job. Compared to $16,640 a year on minimum wage, that’s enough difference to move a family from below poverty to self-sufficiency.
• Hundreds of those workers now receive health coverage through their employers, and the rest receive $2 an hour toward buying their own coverage.
The report also documents benefits for businesses and the city:
• Nearly half of the employers required to pay the Living Wage self-reported that it has improved the quality of their company’s services for the city.
• Almost half of employers also say it has reduced absenteeism or turnover. continue reading