The City of Savannah Pay Policy establishes the rules governing pay as it applies to all classes of employees in a manner that is fair and consistent with applicable federal, state and other laws governing pay. To ensure City of Savannah employees can meet their basic needs, it is recommended the City’s Pay Policy be amended to include payment of a living wage to part-time and full-time benefits-eligible employees.

The living wage is an hourly rate of pay intended to provide the amount of income, adjusted for inflation, needed to provide a decent standard of living. For the purpose of this policy, the living wage calculation is only based upon one individual worker, not family size or any dependents. 

The living wage will be defined by the nationally recognized Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Living Wage Calculator, or a comparable calculator should the MIT Calculator no longer remain current or reliable.  All such payments shall be made pursuant to applicable law and City policy.  Living Wage increases will be subject to City Council approval as part of the annual budget approval process. A living wage increase will not mandate a wage increase for all City positions.

According to a review completed by Human Resources, based on currently budgeted positions, paying the existing living wage to full-time and part-time employess with benefits would have a fiscal impact of $375 more in the current budget year. 

Approval