Sonoma Supes Approve $15 Living Wage for 1,100 Employees

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed a $15 per hour living wage ordinance for 1,000 county employees and employees of for-profit and nonprofit contractors with the county.

The county employs around 4,200 people.

The $15 hourly wage for 737 nonprofit employees will be phased in over three years starting at $13 an hour in July 2017.

The 363 non-full-time county and for-profit contractors’ employees will earn $15 an hour starting July 1, 2016. It will cost the county $271,180 the first year it is in effect.

Full implementation in 2020 of the living wage ordinance that also includes the 737 nonprofit employees will cost the county $981,039 a year.

The ordinance excludes in-home supportive service workers in the Service Employees International Union.

The Board considered a living wage ordinance in June as part of a poverty reduction strategy. After negative feedback, the Board in August appointed a Living Wage Ad Hoc Committee to explore amendments or additions to the June ordinance.

The vote on the contentious issue came Tuesday evening after a lengthy public hearing.

The ordinance excludes in-home supportive service workers in the Service Employees International Union who negotiate their wage with the county and currently earn $11.65 an hour.

The North Bay Jobs with Justice organization lobbied to create a way for the in-home supportive services workers to earn $15 an hour through a living wage ordinance or contract negations though their union.

North Bay Jobs with Justice spokesman Marty Bennett said 50 percent of the jobs that will be created in the county between 2010-2020 will pay less than a livable wage of $20 an hour.

--Bay City News Service