County board committee passes living wage ordinance

MILWAUKEE -- The \"living wage\" ordinance was passed by Milwaukee County's Finance, Personnel and Audit Committee by a vote of 7-2.

The living wage ordinance guarantees a wage equal to 100% of the poverty line to county employees and those employed by companies the county does business with. 

Milwaukee County Supervisor David Bowen says, \"There was much opposition to a living wage ordinance from the County Executive and others who said an increase in the federal or state minimum wage would be more appropriate. But those increases won't happen.\"

County Executive Chris Abele issued the following statement:

\"I agree with Supervisors that more needs to be done across the country to address poverty, but this goal should not come at a cost to Milwaukee's competitiveness or taxpayers.

I invite Supervisors to consider broader action to address poverty that doesn't undermine Milwaukee's fragile economy, such as joining me and other Democratic leaders in pushing for an increase in the state and federal minimum wage \"



This ordnance will go to the full county board for a vote on February 6th.