The city of Langley has begun its consideration of increasing the minimum wage for city staff.
Although no decisions have been made yet, the Langley City Council entertained a discussion pertaining to the wage increases at its meeting Monday night.
Councilmember Harolynne Bobis broached the topic with a proposal of $20 per hour for all full-time city employees.
“I think if we provide a higher minimum wage, we’ve done our part,” she said. “I mean, we can’t ask landlords to lower the cost of housing. I just think this is a good idea.”
The rise in wages would currently only affect a summer help position within the public works department. Public Works Director Randi Perry said the position’s wage is currently advertised as between $15 and $17.
Councilmember Thomas Gill pointed out that the Port of South Whidbey raised the minimum wage for its employees earlier this year to $20. The executive director made a change to the personnel policy that was approved by the port commissioners.
He added that given the current pricing of rental housing in the area, $20 would be “very adequate” if a household consisted of two people making that wage.
“We want to make sure our city employees are well taken care of, less they get snatched up by other cities who can pay more,” he said.
Gill even suggested going beyond $20.
“It might behoove us to look at $25, honestly, as being a bare minimum,” he said. “I know that’s a budgetary impact to some degree, if it does come up.”
Yet city staff cautioned the council to think of the impacts to Langley’s budget. Finance Director Monica Felici said all positions will be affected by the increase, and that other employees making above minimum wage will also require an increase.
“I just think we should wait until we have a wage study, which will be brought up in our Finance and Personnel Commission meeting on Wednesday,” she said.
The newly formed citizen-led committee is meeting for the first time at 3 p.m. this Wednesday, March 23.
In the end, the council agreed that the finance commission should take a closer look at the issue, with Felici’s input.
