Lucas County Commissioners adopt living wage policy

2/24/2009

The Lucas County Commissioners voted Tuesday to adopt a watered-down version of a proposed living-wage resolution after receiving a wary opinion from the county prosecutor s office.

While the new policy requires employers that receive tax incentives, grants, or loans from the county to pay its workers a minimum $11.67 an hour, it does not force businesses that enter into county contracts to pay such a wage.

Earlier proposals from Commissioners Ben Konop and Pete Gerken had sought to extend the living-wage resolution to contracts, but the newly-issued opinion says that the board lacks that authority.

"Under current Ohio law, County Commissioners are not authorized to fully adopt such a policy," reads the opinion by Steven Papadimos, civil division chief.

Ohio s minimum wage is $7.30 an hour.

Contact JC Reindl at:

jreindl@theblade.com

or 419-724-6065.