Purpose of the Living Wage Ordinance

The City of Ashland awards contracts to private firms to provide services to the public and City government. The City also provides grants to not-for-profit organizations. Such public expenditures should be spent only with deliberate purpose to promote the creation of jobs that allow citizens to support themselves and their families with dignity. Jobs that pay below living wages do not serve the public purpose and place an undue burden on taxpayers and the community which must further subsidize employers who pay sub-poverty wages by providing their employees health care, housing, nutrition, energy assistance, and other government-provided services. The City has a responsibility when spending public money to set a community standard that promotes workers living above the poverty line. Therefore, contractors, subcontractors or other recipients of City financial assistance should pay their employees nothing less than a living wage as defined in the adopted Living Wage Ordinance.

In accordance with the provisions established in this ordinance, the Living Wage increases annually on June 30 by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Applicable contract limits also increase annually by the CPI.

- Ordinance No. 2875
- Adopted September 4, 2001 by the Mayor and City Council
- Amended March 16, 2010

The Living Wage ordinances have been incorporated into Ashland Municipal Code, Chapter 3.12. To read this chapter, click here.