Taxes could be on the rise in Bloomington if the city decides to pay all its employees a living wage. That's the concern from city leaders about a question being asked on the Bloomington ballot.
Whether you're picking up leaves or a lifeguard at the pool, all Bloomington city employees would be a paid a living wage or $9.81 an hour. Clarissa Kaehlert has worked at O'Neil Pool for eight years and has yet to reach the living wage.
"This summer I had to resort to donating plasma to help with food and pay for my apartment as I was having trouble paying rent," Kaehlert says.
Here's why $9.81is considered the living wage. It's because that's what it takes for a Bloomington resident working 40-hours a week to afford renting a one-bedroom apartment and living expenses.
"Our goal is to make sure people working for the city aren't poor," Jean Pretz with the Central Illinois Organizing Project.
The Central Illinois Organizing Project collected signatures to get the living wage question on the ballot. But, if the city decides to at least pay the living wage, it will cost taxpayers an extra 250-thousand dollars.
"$250,000 can buy a little over a mile of paved streets. We've talked about hiring more police officers," Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton says.
The cost goes up another 143-thousand dollars if all workers at the Coliseum get the living wage rate. But, city leaders are concerned after cutting $2.5-million in the budget earlier this year.
"If we do this, it sounds good, but what are we going to do in terms of cutting programs or increasing taxes," Stockton says.
Pretz responds, "The city already subsidizes public golf courses to the tune of over a half million dollars every year. I think we should be valuing people over that kind of luxury recreation."
That's up to Bloomington voters to decide first. The ballot question is just an advisory referendum.
So, even if the measure passes next week, the City Council would still need to approve any kind of pay hike.
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