The group Policy Matters Ohio says living wage laws that set a minimum hourly compensation for employees working under government contracts are far from unusual. Cleveland and Lakewood already have similar laws on their books. .
Zach Schiller, who is the group's research director, says the study results it will present to the commissioners shows a modest benefit of living wage laws to workers.
Business groups consistently argue that living wage laws inhibit economic activity and development. But Schiller says those arguments are typically philosophical, with little in way of evidence to support them.
Zach Schiller: The city of Cleveland, there was an ordinance 3 years ago and a public hearing, and the business representative that spoke at that time acknowledged there was a dearth of specific examples. And I would like to deal in facts rather than scare tactics.
Policy Matters' recommendations exclude contracts for construction and materials. Commissioner Tim Hagan says he'll support a county living wage law, while Commissioners Jimmy Dimora and Peter Lawson Jones reportedly have some reservations.