Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

A. MOTION TO DISCUSS increasing the living wage paid to covered employees, increasing the health benefit amount to be paid when health benefits are not offered by an employer, and amending the index used for calculating future adjustments to the living wage.

(Per the Tuesday Morning Memorandum, Commissioner Holness requested being added as a co-sponsor to this item.)

ACTION:  (T-12:57 PM)  Approved.  Through Mayor Furr, the Board requested to be added as co-sponsors to this item.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.) 
 
VOTE: 8-0.  Commissioner LaMarca was not present during the vote.

B. MOTION TO DIRECT Office of the County Attorney to draft an Ordinance amending Chapter 26, Article VII, of the Broward County Code of Ordinances (the "Living Wage Ordinance"), consistent with the Board's discussion. (Commissioner Rich)

ACTION:  (T-12:57 PM)  Approved.  Through Mayor Furr, the Board requested to be added as co-sponsors to this item.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.) 

VOTE: 8-0.  Commissioner LaMarca was not present during the vote.

Permits a public discussion of this matter. Additionally, Board direction is required for the Office of the County Attorney to draft an Ordinance.

Allows the public discussion and provides required direction to the Office of the County Attorney.

On November 14, 2017, Agenda Item No. 37, the Board considered a motion to direct the Office of the County Attorney to amend the Living Wage Ordinance to increase the living wage paid to covered employees, including the health benefit amount, and to amend the indexing of the living wage. The Board directed the County Attorney, in consultation with County staff, to provide recommendations regarding changes to the Living Wage Ordinance, including the financial consequences of the proposed changes. The proposed recommendations were to include an analysis of the cost of living differential between Broward County and Miami-Dade County. Only limited legal analysis was required, and that analysis has been provided by the Office of the County Attorney. The analysis and recommendations by County staff will be submitted as additional material.
 
Currently, Broward County's Living Wage Ordinance requires that covered employers pay covered employees $12.03 per hour with qualifying health care benefits amounting to at least $1.56 per hour, or $13.59 per hour without qualifying health care benefits. Miami-Dade County's ordinance provides that covered employers with contracts entered into after October 1, 2018, pay covered employees $13.23 per hour with qualifying health care benefits amounting to at least $3.17 per hour, or $16.40 per hour without qualifying health care benefits.
 
If so directed by the Board, the proposed Living Wage Ordinance amendment would increase the living wage in Broward County to be consistent with that of Miami-Dade County, after adjustment for any cost of living differential between the two counties.