Portland voters may again be asked to consider raising the minimum wage. According to the Portland Press Herald, the city council’s housing and economic development committee discussed the issue on Tuesday, though it has yet to come up with a specific recommendation. “Whether or not we hit the deadline to get this on the ballot or not, I do still think it’s a really important conversation that we should be having and this is an opportunity for the public to engage,” Councilor Andrew Zarro told the Press Herald on Tuesday night.
Additionally, the Maine Democratic Socialists of America for a Livable Portland has filed to get a referendum question on the November ballot. The group wants to increase the minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2025. While Portland’s minimum wage is currently scheduled to increase to $15 per hour by 2024, the DSA says that “We are fighting for $18 because it’s clear that $15 is no longer adequate, and $18 is within the range of a living wage while being manageable for employers.” The initial increase to $15 was a result of the DSA’s “People First Portland” campaign, and was approved by 60% of voters in Portland.
James Myall, a policy analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy was also at the meeting, and added his research, stating that there is minimal or no negative affects on employment if the minimum wage is kept at 60 percent or less of the median hourly wage for full-time, year-round wage earners. Myall estimated the current median wage in Portland at just under $28 per hour, which means that in theory the city could support a minimum wage of $16.70 per hour. Myall added that women and people of color, who are disproportionately represented in lower-wage jobs, tend to benefit from minimum wage increases.
Eamonn Dundon, director of advocacy for the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, added his thoughts, calling Portland an outlier compared to other cities. He believes that increased costs may be passed onto consumers as well as impact local businesses. “This has been a big topic of concern among our members when we talk about these wage issues in health care and social services,” Dundon said on Tuesday. “They’ve noted that these increases in wages would have a huge impact on their ability to deliver services in Portland.”
The DSA must gather 1,500 signatures by Friday to make it on November’s ballot.
