Meeting Wednesday on Sonoma County ‘living wage’ proposal

The group advocating for a $15-per-hour living wage ordinance for 5,000 workers affiliated with the county of Sonoma is holding a series of town hall meetings in each of the county’s five supervisorial districts over the next month.

The first meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday night at the Sonoma Valley Grange Hall, 18627 Highway 12.

The group, North Bay Jobs with Justice, unveiled their proposal last month, offering a plan estimated to cost up to $12 million annually. It would provide pay raises to about 3,800 in-home care providers, who are currently paid $11.65 an hour. Also affected would be 1,200 people employed by the county or organizations that provide contract services to the county, hold county leases, franchise or concession agreements or receive financial assistance from the county.

The Board of Supervisors has commissioned a study to identify costs associated with a living wage ordinance and other measures to combat poverty.

Wednesday’s meeting is open to the public. Three others are planned, with the next set for Nov. 6 in Petaluma.

You can reach Staff Writer Angela Hart at 526-8503 or angela.hart@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ahartreports.