Story Published: Jul 7, 2010 at 2:55 PM PST
Story Updated: Jul 7, 2010 at 2:55 PM PST
The Moscow City Council voted 4-2 Tuesday to repeal the city's so-called living wage.
The living wage resolution approved in 2006 set a $10.25 per hour pay scale for city workers. Companies that have service contracts with the city must also follow the scale if the contracts are worth $25,000 or more, or if they employ more than 10 people.
At the time, Idaho's minimum wage was $5.15 per hour, and city leaders and supporters of the living wage promoted a higher hourly pay rate as a statement in support of workers and the local economy.
Before the vote to repeal, Council President Wayne Krauss questioned the merits of the living wage, saying it dictated what private employers should pay workers.
Krauss motioned to repeal the living wage after Mayor Nancy Chaney suggested revisiting the established rate of $10.25
But councilman Tom Lamar called the vote to repeal a shame, arguing it set a good standard for a community in need of good paying jobs.
City Supervisor Gary Riedner told the council the changes would not affect current city of Moscow employees because the city already has an established pay scale. The lowest-paid city employee makes $11.95 an hour.
