In enacting this chapter the Town Council makes the following findings and articulates the following purposes for the promulgation of the living wage regulations set forth herein:
(A) The health and welfare of all Fairfax residents is benefitted and advances when Fairfax workers are paid a living wage;
(B) The town awards contracts to private sector and non profit employers to provide services to the town in accordance with those contracts;
(C) Many workers in Fairfax and their families live at or below the poverty line; (The payment of inadequate wages to those workers tends to negatively affect the quality of services provided to the town and its residents by fostering high turnover and instability in the workplace.)
(D) The payment of a living wage will increase the ability of low wage workers to attain sustenance, decrease the amount of poverty and reduce the amount of taxpayer funded services provided in the Town of Fairfax;
(E) Some employers who provide contract services to the Town do not provide health insurance benefits to their employees; and (This factor negatively affects worker performance and the quality of services delivered to the town and its residents, results in unwarranted employee absenteeism and negatively impacts local and state health programs. These problems can be favorably impacted if employers provide reasonable health insurance benefits to their employees.)
(F) Living wage jobs will decrease poverty, increase consumer income and invigorate downtown businesses.
(Ord. 691, passed 8-6-2002)