May 10, 2005
Living wage...
Kenner Mayor Phil Capitano is always good for a laugh. Shame that it's really not a funny issue. Witness this exchange during budget hearings last night:
Council members questioned the amount of overtime worked during the current fiscal year -- such as the $439,470 of overtime in the Public Works Department, far above the $61,640 budgeted for the year. The same amount is budgeted for next year.
"Would it be better for us to hire additional people rather than pay all that overtime?" Councilman Michael McMyne asked.
Capitano said some of that overtime is from people working during Hurricane Ivan and because of grass-cutting needs. He said some salaries are so low that people have to work overtime just to earn a living wage.
It's one thing to offer overtime work to employees who want to make more money, but having to work more than 40 hours a week in a single job because it pays so bad is serfdom.