§ 2-377. Living wage requirements.

(a)

Payment of Living Wage. Covered employers shall pay employees providing services pursuant to a service contract or in connection with a county economic development assistance agreement no less than a living wage as set forth in this article. The living wage requirement imposed by this article shall be binding upon the assignees and successors in interest of any service contractor, county economic development assistance recipient, or subcontractor to which this article applies.

(b)

Rate. Covered employers subject to this article shall pay employees no less than a living wage for services financed or supported by county funds for the time those employees are engaged in providing services to or funded by the county. As used in this section, the "living wage" means, as of the effective date of this article, no less than fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour, if the covered employer does not provide health benefits. The living wage shall be reviewed annually and may be adjusted by the board as provided in subsection (d) of this section.

(c)

Credit for Health and Retirement Benefits. A service contractor who contributes towards the provision of either (i) health care benefits for the employee and his/her dependents or (ii) a retirement plan for the employee and his/her dependents shall have up to one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) credited toward its compliance with the living wage. A service contractor who contributes towards the provision of both (i) health care benefits for the employee and his/her dependents and (ii) a retirement plan for the employee and his/her dependents shall have up to three dollars ($3.00) credited toward its compliance with the minimum wage. The service contractor, county economic development assistance recipient, or subcontractor must provide written proof of the provision of such benefits to the county purchasing agent or other awarding authority during the procurement or contracting process.

(d)

Adjustments. The county administrator or designee shall annually review the living wage set forth in subsection (a) not later than December 1 to determine whether to recommend that the board of supervisors implement adjustments to the living wage. In making said recommendation, the county administrator shall consider the following fiscal and economic factors: (i) the annual cost of living increase, if any, during the preceding year in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area, as published in October of each year by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; (ii) the cost of living increase, if any, granted to all county employees; and (iii) the prevailing financial conditions and general economic health of the county and the economy in general. Any adjustment made to the minimum hourly living wage shall not exceed the lesser of the annual increase in cost of living as measured by said Consumer Price Index or the cost of living increase granted to all county employees. Said increase shall: (i) be adopted by resolution of the board of supervisors, (ii) take effect on January 1 of each year, and (iii) be posted by the county administrator on the county's website for the notice of all county departments, contractors, and subcontractors.

( Ord. No. 6139, § II , 12-15-2015)