Title
Supporting the request for funding to study the potential impacts of raising the minimum wage.
Body
Whereas, 22% of St. Paul residents live below the poverty line and there are significant racial and gender disparities in income in St. Paul that contribute to unacceptable educational outcomes and a greater demand for government services; and
Whereas, cities and states around the country are grappling with how to reduce poverty and income inequality and some have moved to increase the minimum wage beyond the federal and statewide minimums in order to do so; and
Whereas, homelessness is on the rise in St. Paul and Ramsey County, in part due to rents increasing at a faster pace than incomes; and
Whereas, the City Council would like to approach this issue in a context-specific way that takes into account the mix of businesses, job types, cost of living, and poverty rate in St. Paul; and
Whereas, the Citizens League has expressed an interest in working to identify key questions, assess research and data availability, and determine a thorough list of stakeholders for a discussion about when, how, and for whom it would be advisable for policymakers to increase the local minimum wage; and
Whereas, nearly all of the candidates to be the next Mayor of St. Paul have committed to raising the minimum wage in St. Paul to $15 per hour for at least some workers; and
Whereas, prominent private and public sector employers including Target Corp and the St. Paul Public Schools have recently committed to increasing their minimum wage to $15 per hour, and the City of Minneapolis has recently acted to increase the minimum wage to $15 over 5-7 years; and
Whereas, the Citizens League has applied to the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners to help fund their work in this vitally important area; and
Whereas, the Citizens League is a highly respected, nonpartisan nonprofit organization that works to assist governments and communities in grappling with difficult public policy questions; and
Whereas, the St. Paul City Council desires to create a fact-based, fair, and balanced understanding by policymakers and the public of the complex issues surrounding an increase in the minimum wage before taking any action;
Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the St. Paul City Council supports the Citizens League’s applications for funding for this purpose and looks forward to working with the League and the next Mayor on this vitally important topic.