Sec. 2-374. - Purpose.

The purpose of this article is to implement a policy to help low wage workers earn an hourly wage that is sufficient to live with dignity and to achieve economic self-sufficiency. The county contracts with many businesses and organizations to provide services to the public, and provides financial assistance to a variety of entities for the purpose of promoting economic development and job growth. Such public expenditures should also be spent to set a community economic standard that permits workers to live above the poverty level. Ensuring that workers on county contracts and other county-assisted initiatives are adequately paid, obtain certain benefits and protections, and are afforded other minimum employment standards serves to ensure that the county obtains the quality, timely, and sustainable services, deliverables, and other benefits that are the purpose of the subject contracts and assistance agreements. The establishment of a living wage ordinance is one (1) component of a more comprehensive strategy to address poverty in Sonoma County. The board of supervisors finds that the use of county funds to provide living wage jobs will decrease poverty, increase consumer income, invigorate neighborhood businesses, and reduce the need for taxpayer-funded social service programs.

(Ord. No. 6488, § III(Exh. A), 6-4-2024; Ord. No. 6139, § II, 12-15-2015)