1.   Proposal: Define “family wage jobs”

Rationale:  The City has failed to give any definition to the term “family wage jobs”.  A recent Oregon Employment Division report on the wages being offered in Florence indicated an average of $7.98 per hour, a figure which is well below the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a family of four ($8.49), not to mention one of the lowest in the statewide report. (See Documents 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 9-4, 9-5, 9-6, 9-7, 9-8)

Suggested Language: Page 73, Policy 1 - The City shall  encourage actions and activities that promote the availability of new employment in the community [, especially] which provide family wage jobs.  The term “family wage jobs” is defined as jobs paying a minimum of 130% of the annual income for a family of four according to the Federal Poverty Guidelines reported in the Federal Register.  Calculation of the  hourly rate equivalent will be derived by dividing the annual income indicated in the Federal Register by 2080 (40 hours of work per week for a full year (2080 hours per year).

Recommendations

1.   Proposal: Develop Living Wage Ordinance

Rationale: A living wage is usually the wage a full-time worker would need to earn to support a family above the federal poverty line.  Many communities are adopting living wage ordinances which require that certain workers, those employed by businesses that have a contract with a city or receive economic development subsidies from the city, be paid a living wage. The rationale behind the ordinance is that the city government should not contract with or subsidize employers who pay poverty-level wages. (See Document 9-8)

Suggested Language: Page 74, Recommendations - 10 - The City should develop and implement a Living Wage Ordinance appropriate for the Florence area.
 

Document List