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On behalf of the Longmont Living Wage Coalition, I would like to thank the members of Longmont’s City Council for their unanimous support at the September 17 Council meeting for paying a Living Wage. The motion was to pay a living wage of at least $17.42/hour to full-time staff and full-time City contract employees, and to add language to City contracts to specify the living wage requirement. We understand that this will allow the estimated effects to be incorporated into the 2020 Budget.
We would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Joanne Zeas and Harold Dominguez, as well as other city staff, to survey the City’s contractors in order to try and quantify what the effect of a living wage requirement might be. We realize that not all effects are known, and that 2020 will involve a process of working through this requirement with the contractors. As Harold pointed out, there can be unintended consequences, but we all know what the intent is, so we hope those can be worked out if they arise.
It is impressive that almost all fulltime City employees already receive at least $17.42/hour, and almost 2/3 of the City’s contractors who replied to the survey pay at least $17.42. It is the other 1/3 of contractors who will be affected by this policy, and those contract employees will receive the benefit of a living wage, thanks to the Council’s decision last night. Those employees will benefit from the City’s vision of “The World’s Greatest Village”.
We also appreciate Councilperson Christensen’s comments, and we realize that this new living wage will still not be enough for many single parents, but it is at least a step in the right direction for those contract employees.
Again, thank you.
Peggy Leech, co-president
League of Women Voters of Boulder County
