Minimum wage could be a thing of the past for Osceola County employees, if a new law is passed Monday.
“We have to do something that makes it a living wage here not just a subsistent wage or minimum wage,” said Osceola County Commissioner Michael Harford.
Right now, the Florida Minimum wage is $8.05 an hour. County leaders like Harford said the minimum wage isn’t enough to make ends meet on a daily basis for the average family.
Harford said that’s the reason he is proposing the county create a “living wage” of $11.66 an hour.
“We’re protecting the vulnerable workers in Osceola County,” Harford said.
The new wage would only apply to any employees working for the county directly or any workers who work with the county through contractual agreements like contracted lawn maintenance workers.
However, those changes for contractual workers wouldn’t go into effect until their current one ends and they resign.
The Economic Commission spokesperson said they will be asking the Commission to hold off on saying yes during Monday’s county meeting because they say it could prevent other companies from wanting to do business here.
The Osceola County Commission will vote on the living wage ordinance during their regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 p.m.