Proposal would tie city tax incentives to living wage in Cincinnati
Last year, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation prohibiting cities from setting their own minimum wages.
That has hamstrung efforts by Democrats on Cincinnati City Council to set requirements that employers pay above Ohio’s $8.10 an hour minimum wage. But Councilman Chris Seelbach is proposing legislation that may provide a partial end-run around the State House.
At an Oct. 12 news conference outside City Hall, Seelbach announced that he is introducing an ordinance that would tie job-creation tax incentives the city gives to companies to fair wages for their employees.
Companies would only get the incentives — which allow employers to keep part of the earnings tax normally paid to the city — if they agree to pay their workers $12.50 an hour starting Jan. 1 next year. That requirement will rise to $15 an hour starting Jan. 1, 2019.
Read more: http://www.citybeat.com/news/blog/20979087/proposal-would-tie-city-tax-incentives-to-living-wage