RESOLUTION NO. 131
ESTABLISHING A LIVING WAGE FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY AND AMENDING THE 2021 ALBANY COUNTY BUDGET
Introduced: 4/12/21
By Lekakis, Willingham, Cunningham, McLean Lane, McLaughlin, Plotsky, Messrs. A. Joyce, Feeney, Bruschi, Clay, Cleary, Commisso, Efekoro, Ethier, Fein, Kuhn, Miller, Peter, Reidy, Reinhardt, Ricard, Simpson and Domalewicz:
WHEREAS, The Albany County Legislature takes pride in its workforce and has a long and demonstrated history of supporting higher than minimum wages for its employees, and
WHEREAS, In 2018, this Honorable Body endeavored in studying the effect of raising the hourly wages of employees to $15 per hour, to establish a living wage, and
WHEREAS, There has been a fight for economic justice which continues throughout the nation, and
WHEREAS, With the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy has been severely affected and economic recovery strategies should be implemented whenever possible, and
WHEREAS, Low wages, compounded by the growing wealth gap, contribute to a cycle of debt and poverty for women and minorities, and
WHEREAS, While increasing wages cannot alone close the wealth gap, it would increase the income of many County employees, especially minorities and women who have been disenfranchised from fair and equal wages since the beginning of time, and
WHEREAS, The Albany County Legislature has determined that the NY State minimum wage of $12.50 per hour is insufficient to support a minimal and basic standard of living in Albany County, and that an adequate wage to support such a standard of living is $15 per hour, and
WHEREAS, The Albany County Legislature does not have the legal authority to legislate a different minimum wage than the state minimum wage, but nevertheless it is the desire of this Honorable Body to take action within its power to provide a fair living wage to its employees, now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature, that a living wage of $15 per hour shall apply to all non-elected employees of the County of Albany, and be it further
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature that the 2021 Albany County Budget is hereby amended as follows:
Decrease Appropriation Account A 1990 by $70,072 by decreasing Line Item
A 1990 44999 Misc Contractual Expenses by $70,072
Increase Line Item A 9901 99901 TRANSFER OTHER FUNDS by $51,723
Increase Line Item NH 6020 05033 INTERFUND TRANSFERS by $51,723
Increase Line Item NH 6020 15293 6400513 ACTIVITIES ASSISTANT by $2,438
Increase Line Item A 1185 160005 CLERK I PT 20 by $838
Increase Line Item A 1185 89030 SOCIAL SECURITY by $64
Increase Line Item A 6772 5000020 COMMUNITY SERVICE ENROLL by $866
Increase Line Item A 6772 89030 SOCIAL SECURITY by $66
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640948 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640920 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640947 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640946 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640944 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640940 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640933 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640941 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640938 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640935 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640942 ENV SERVICE AIDE by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 641013 ENV SERVICE PER DIEM by $575
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640662 FOOD SERVICE HELPER by $1,136
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640630 FOOD SERVICE HELPER by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640613 FOOD SERVICE HELPER by $2,445
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640629 FOOD SERVICE HELPER by $2,445
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640624 FOOD SERVICE HELPER by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640639 FOOD SERVICE HELPER by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640628 FOOD SERVICE HELPER by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 640632 FOOD SERVICE HELPER by $2,438
Increase Line Item NH 6020 89030 SOCIAL SECURITY by $3,676
Increase Line Item A 1411 240014 MICROFILM AIDE 35 by $171
Increase Line Item A 1411 89030 SOCIAL SECURITY by $13
Increase Line Item A 1410 239999 TEMP COUNTY CLERK by $298
Increase Line Item A 1410 89030 SOCIAL SECURITY by $23
Increase Line Item A 3110 379996 TEMP COURT ATTENDANTS by $6,405
Increase Line Item A 3110 89030 SOCIAL SECURITY by $490
Increase Line Item A 3189 660004 TEMP HELP STOP DWI by $290
Increase Line Item A 3189 89030 SOCIAL SECURITY by $22
Increase Line Item A 4010 409999 TEMP HEALTH by $179
Increase Line Item A 4010 89030 SOCIAL SECURITY by $14
Increase Line Item A 7410 529998 TEMP HELP by $7,854
Increase Line Item A 7410 89030 SOCIAL SECURITY by $601
Increase Line Item A 4610 459999 TEMP RAPE CRISIS by $144
Increase Line Item A 4610 89030 SOCIAL SECURITY by $11
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the County Legislature is directed to forward
certified copies of this resolution to the appropriate County Officials.
Referred to Personnel and Audit and Finance Committees - 4/12/21
Favorable Recommendation Personnel Committee - 4/29/21
Favorable Recommendation Audit and Finance Committee - 4/29/21