City of Milwaukee workers will be offered wage incentives to live within city limits

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – City of Milwaukee employees will soon be offered incentives for living within city limits.

The Common Council unanimously approved the legislation this week.

In addition to wage and salary incentives, a task force will be created to study and recommend other advantages that would encourage city employees to live in Milwaukee.

Statistics show more than 1,600 employees moved outside of the city. In 2013, the state law was changed, allowing city workers to live outside of Milwaukee.

Common Council members argue that employees who live in the city will have better knowledge of the challenges, will be more likely to contribute to the local economy and have a better connection with other residents.

The wage incentive for living within city limits could be anywhere from a one to three percent increase.

“We’ll see what the end result will be,” Ald. Michael Murphy said. “We’re doing what we can within legal bounds of the law and what we can afford to do.”

Due to the law, public safety employees can’t be automatically included in the change but Ald. Murphy says there will be negotiations with the unions.