Bloomington Wage Ordinance

There is presently a discussion taking place regarding a proposed wage ordinance for selected groups within the City of Bloomington.

These groups are city workers, businesses who receive tax breaks from the city such as tax abatement and not-for-profit groups who receive grants from the city.

The latest proposal calls for $8.50 per hour for full-time employees with benefits totaling $1.50 per hour or $10.00 per hour for those employees without health insurance.

There are some thresholds and employee number cut-offs in an attempt to shield the very small business and some not-for-profits.

So far the proposal has raised more questions than it had answered, such as:

1. Will it reduce poverty as purported?
2. Will it add jobs?
3. Will certain businesses and larger not-for-profits have to reduce their work force?
4. If the city rents the convention center, will the workers involved in set-up, food, etc., have to be paid $8.50 or $10.00 per hour?
5. Is it correct that the cost to the city is between $200,000 and $600,000?
6. Could it cost larger not-for-profits between $100,000 and $400,000 to implement?
7. If the city has a contract with a local car wash to wash police cars, does the car wash have to pay the wage ordinance rate?

And the list of questions goes on and one. Hopefully we can get some answers to the numerous unanswered questions so that is can be discussed openly and honestly.

Larry Crabb
Chair, Wage Ordinance Committee
Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce