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15 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 3 <br /> 4 8. Reports <br /> 5 <br /> 6 a. Update on Living Wage Policies <br /> 7 The Board considered receiving an update on Orange County's living wage policies and <br /> 8 various living wage activities across the state, discussing potential initiatives related to the living <br /> 9 wage based on information from staff and the County Attorney, and providing direction to staff <br /> 10 on next steps regarding potential County living wage policy initiatives. <br /> 11 Travis Myren said this is a coordinated effort between him and John Roberts. He noted <br /> 12 there is a summary memo in the Commissioners' packet, as well as the abstract. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 BACKGROUND: <br /> 15 The Board of County Commissioners has for some time maintained its support for the <br /> 16 living wage. This has included the implementation of a living wage policy for all <br /> 17 County employees, as well as potential development of living wage policies that would be <br /> 18 applicable to those doing business with the County. <br /> 19 Staff has provided a memorandum as Attachment 1 that provides an overview of the <br /> 20 County's current living wage policies as well as activities related to the living wage across the <br /> 21 state. <br /> 22 The Board also previously asked staff, and specifically the County Attorney, for <br /> 23 information regarding a potential policy requiring contractors doing business with Orange <br /> 24 County to pay their employees a living wage. The County Attorney notes that in 2013, the North <br /> 25 Carolina General Assembly limited the authority of counties and cities by amending §153A-449, <br /> 26 which authorizes contracting with private contractors, to include a new sentence, "A county may <br /> 27 not require a private contractor under this section to abide by any restriction that the county <br /> 28 could not impose on all employers in the county, such as paying minimum wage or providing <br /> 29 paid sick leave to its employees, as a condition of bidding on a contract." (Emphasis added) <br /> 30 Travis Myren made the following PowerPoint presentation: <br /> 31 <br /> 32 ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 33 Living Wage Policy Update <br /> 34 Presentation to the Board of Orange County Commissioners <br /> 35 November 17, 2015 <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Living Wage Policy Update <br /> 38 • Summary Memo <br /> 39 o Legal analysis provided by County Attorney <br /> 40 • County Roles in Living Wage Policy <br /> 41 o County as an Employer <br /> 42 o County as a Purchaser of Goods and Services <br /> 43 o County as a Community Leader <br /> 44 • Policy Considerations and Next Steps <br /> 45 <br /> 46 County as an Employer <br /> 47 Living Wage Policy for Employees <br /> 48 o Adopted as part of the Budget <br /> 49 o Calculated at 7.5% above the Federal Poverty Rate for a family of four <br /> 50 Consistent with other surrounding local governments <br />