For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Statement of Montgomery County
President Roger Berliner on Council’s
approval of increase in County minimum wage
to $15 per hour by 2020
ROCKVILLE, Md., January 17, 2017—Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner made the following statement after the Council today approved amended Bill 12-16 by a 5-4 vote that will increase the County minimum wage for most employers to $15 per hour by 2020:
My support for a serious economic impact analysis prior to taking up the bill itself stems from several factors. We have time to try to get this right. By right, I mean right for Montgomery County. And that is our charge, to do right by our County. The current minimum wage increases approved by our Council, which I voted for, do just that. And we do not reach the ceiling of those changes until July 2018. If you believe that this is a serious matter, why would you not want to do as much due diligence as you can possibly do to understand what this will mean for our County?
I respect the national “Fight for $15” movement. And I support it nationally, as well as statewide here in Maryland. But when tackling this issue here locally, the reality is very few suburban jurisdictions situated as we are have adopted $15 an hour.
According to top economists supportive of the $15 an hour movement, this is for good reason. We are not a destination community, unlike D.C., Los Angeles, New York City and Seattle. Our economy is subject to competitive pressures next door, and across the river.
The fact is that this issue has truths on both sides. It is true that some people work too hard for too little, and that creates hardships in their lives. I have told the business community, regardless of how this plays out, no is not the final answer. You have my commitment on that.
We have heard convincing testimony from small business owners that it will have a very negative impact on their businesses, and on some the “Fight for $15” effort is intended to support. We have heard that hours are even now being cut; that benefits are being cut; that jobs are being lost. And that is based on our currently projected increase to $11.50 in July, let alone $15. At $15, some owners are saying that they will lose their businesses—and, in some cases, lose their homes.
I feel it is our job to harmonize these truths to the best of our ability. I don’t think this legislation, as introduced or as amended, will achieve that goal. I feel we need a reset in this conversation. We need to create a space where we can find a new balance, a better balance that works for our community—one that is right for us.
I am very sorry that I felt compelled to vote against this measure given the plight of low wage workers, and would not if I didn’t think we would have the opportunity to strike a better balance for our County. And should we get that opportunity, I pledge to do my best to help us find common ground.
Release ID: 17-009