Connect with us

Berkeley

Poverty-Level Wages Cost Taxpayers $153 Billion a Year

Published

8 years ago

on

By Public Affairs, UC Berkeley News

While the U.S. economy rebounds, persistent low wages are costing taxpayers approximately $153 billion every year in public support to working families, including $25 billion at the state level, according to a new report from the University of California, Berkeley, Center for Labor Research and Education. The report details for the first time the state-by-state cost to taxpayers of low wages in the United States. Following decades of wage cuts and health benefits rollbacks, more than half of all state and federal spending on public assistance programs (56 percent) now goes to working families, the report documents.

 

“When companies pay too little for workers to provide for their families, workers rely on public assistance programs to meet their basic needs,” said Ken Jacobs, chair of the labor center and co-author of the new report. “This creates significant cost to the states.”

The report analyzed state spending for Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program and Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), and federal spending for those programs and food stamps (SNAP) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

The UC Berkeley researchers also report that:

On average, 52 percent of state public assistance spending supports working families, with costs as high as $3.7 billion in California, $3.3 billion in New York and $2 billion in Texas;

Reliance on public assistance can be found among workers in a diverse range of occupations, including frontline fast-food workers (52%), childcare workers (46%), home care workers (48%) and even part-time college faculty (25%).

From 2003 to 2013, wage growth remained flat or negative for the entire bottom 70 percent of workers in the United States, Jacobs said. Over the same time, the share of non-elderly Americans receiving health insurance from an employer fell almost 10 percentage points, from 67 percent to 58 percent.

Despite modest pay raises at some of the country’s largest and most profitable employers, including Walmart and McDonald’s, wages continue to lag far behind inflation.

The researchers note that raising wages would result in significant savings to state and federal governments. In recent months, the substantial cost of low wages has prompted elected officials to take action. California, Colorado, Maine, Oregon and Washington are considering increasing the minimum wage to $12 or higher.

In Connecticut, a proposal currently moving through the state legislature would fine large companies that pay low wages in an effort to recoup the cost these companies impose on taxpayers. The Congressional Democrats’ fiscal year 2016 budget proposal unveiled last month included a provision that would roll back tax breaks for large companies that fail to raise pay on pace with inflation.

“Our public-assistance programs provide a vital support system for American families. Raising wages would lift working families out of poverty and allow all levels of government to better target how our tax dollars are used,” Jacobs said.

Funding was provided by the Service Employees International Union.

For more information, go to http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2015/04/13/poverty-level-wages-cost-u-s-taxpayers/

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Bay Area

With Heavy Rains Predicted Stay Alert and Report Problems

While official forecasts can change day to day, the outlook for Berkeley includes some periods of strong wind gusts. A National Weather Service flood watch is in effect for the Bay Area through Sunday, March 12, with the worst rains anticipated on Thursday into Friday.

Published

17 hours ago

on

March 21, 2023

By

With rains and winds expected through March 12, help keep Berkeley safe by doing your part to reduce hazards and flooding in your neighborhood. Report downed power lines, clogged drains, fallen trees, and other storm-related issues.
With rains and winds expected through March 12, help keep Berkeley safe by doing your part to reduce hazards and flooding in your neighborhood. Report downed power lines, clogged drains, fallen trees, and other storm-related issues.

Prepare your household and clean on and around your property as needed. Call 911 for downed power lines. Call 311 to report clogged drains or fallen trees.

With rains and winds expected through March 12, help keep Berkeley safe by doing your part to reduce hazards and flooding in your neighborhood. Report downed power lines, clogged drains, fallen trees, and other storm-related issues.

While official forecasts can change day to day, the outlook for Berkeley includes some periods of strong wind gusts. A National Weather Service flood watch is in effect for the Bay Area through Sunday, March 12, with the worst rains anticipated on Thursday into Friday.

The combination of wind with drenched soil increases the risk of downed trees, which could lead to power outages as well.

Prepare, stay alert, use extra caution on roads, and report issues.

  • If your property has a history of flooding, sandbags used effectively can help divert the path of water.A limited number of sandbags are available to Berkeley residents and businesses on a first-come first-served basis:

City’s Corporation Yard
1326 Allston Way
Monday—Friday, 8 am – 4 pm

Bring ID or a business card.

  • Report downed power lines to 911.If you see damaged power lines or electrical equipment, call 911 immediately, then notify PG&E by calling 1-800-743-5002. Do not touch or drive over a downed power line.
  • Call 311 or key city lines to report clogged storm drains, fallen trees that block roads or other storm damage.After hours, you can also call these numbers:
    • (510) 981-6620, for clogged storm drains, flooding, lights or traffic signals
    • (510) 981-6660, to report downed trees

We expect high call volumes. If you have issues unrelated to the storm, try to keep phone lines free by reporting issues through our Report & Pay online reporting tool or via email, customerservice@berkeleyca.gov.

PREPARE YOUR HOUSEHOLD FOR WINTER STORMS

Other significant storms may lie ahead. Protect your home from possible flooding by taking steps to prepare in advance:

  • Clean on and around your property as needed: gutters, rain downspouts, driveways, and culverts. Remove trash and debris around fences and gardens, and clear basement drains.
  • Check submersible pumps and sump pumps to make sure they are operating properly.
  • Keep flashlights and spare batteries on hand in case of a power failure.

STAY SAFE DURING POWER OUTAGES

Storm damage to power lines may cause outages. Stay informed by signing up to get outage alerts from PG&E for your address by text, email, or phone. PG&E also has an online outage map, which is updated every 15 minutes.

If you experience a power outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal. If you are driving and encounter a signal that is out, treat it as a four-way stop.

HELP CLEAN STORM DRAINS

City crews will be working throughout the storm to address storm-related calls, but you can help reduce flooding by examining the storm drains near you.

You can use simple tools like a rake and garbage bags to remove debris from storm drains, a network that helps quickly remove surface water from our streets.

Fallen leaves and other debris can always accumulate, despite year-round efforts to maintain, inspect, clean, and repair the approximately 7,000 storm drains.

Learn more about how you can clean out storm drains near you on our Adopt-a-Drain storm drain program, where you can sign up to be a regular volunteer.

With the storm expected to bring heavy rain and winds, help keep your household and our community safe by reporting issues and doing your part to reduce flooding in your neighborhood.

LINKS

Keep up with City of Berkeley news via our news page, email, or on Twitter @cityofberkeley

Continue Reading

Bay Area

Apply for Seasonal Jobs for Youth Recreation Programs

Create fun experiences and gain valuable work experience when you apply for seasonal summer positions at overnight and day camps, pools, and waterfront. We’re looking for overnight camp staff, recreation activity leaders, lifeguards, and others to join our recreation staff and work outdoors while providing fun, active, and creative programs for Berkeley youth.

Published

18 hours ago

on

March 21, 2023

By

To qualify for a seasonal position, you must be 16 years or older, be able to work 20-40 hours per week, and available to start in early June. You must also pass a tuberculosis test, complete a Live Scan background check, and have a signed Social Security card.
To qualify for a seasonal position, you must be 16 years or older, be able to work 20-40 hours per week, and available to start in early June. You must also pass a tuberculosis test, complete a Live Scan background check, and have a signed Social Security card.

Create fun experiences and gain valuable work experience when you apply for seasonal summer positions at overnight and day camps, pools, and waterfront.

We’re looking for overnight camp staff, recreation activity leaders, lifeguards, and others to join our recreation staff and work outdoors while providing fun, active, and creative programs for Berkeley youth.

You might be someone who can teach kids to help navigate the outdoors at one of our sleepaway camps in the Sierras, show them how to use tools at our innovative Adventure Playground, or lead programs for tots.

These jobs build skills for life and future careers. You’ll join a dedicated team that’s proud of the service we provide to our diverse community. We promote an accessible, safe, culturally rich, environmentally sound, and healthy city.

Please check our Seasonal Recreation jobs page every couple of weeks as new opportunities arise.

APPLY FOR SEASONAL RECREATION JOBS

To qualify for a seasonal position, you must be 16 years or older, be able to work 20-40 hours per week, and available to start in early June. You must also pass a tuberculosis test, complete a Live Scan background check, and have a signed Social Security card.

To apply for seasonal employment:

  1. Fill out the application form
  2. Send it to recreationjobs@cityofberkeley.info

OPEN SEASONAL POSITIONS WITH THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT

Echo Lake Youth Camp & Tuolumne Family Camp

  • Camp Staff Member: Daily rate of $80.28 – $96.34
  • Camp Staff Leader: Daily rate of $101.16 – $115.61
  • Camp Staff Supervisor: Daily rate of $125.72 – $156.07

Day camps, tots, sports, adventure playground, teens, skate park, special events

  • Recreation Activity Leader: $22.62 per hour (starting pay)
  • Playground Leader Trainee: $20.90 per hour

Aquatics

  • Aquatics Specialist I: $20.90 per hour
  • Aquatics Specialist II: $21.29 per hour
  • Senior Aquatic Specialist: $27.42 per hour

Waterfront

  • Waterfront Monitors: $20.91 per hour
  • Recreation Activity Leader: $22.62 per hour (starting pay)

If you don’t have access to a computer, call or come into our office. We can assist you in completing your application online. Contact our office during business hours:

Recreation Division
Parks, Recreation & Waterfront
1720 8th Street Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 981-5140
Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

These jobs serve the City of Berkeley’s Recreation Division, which offers dozens of camps, classes, and other activities for participants of all ages. Families and individuals can learn more about programs and sign up via our registration portal and see more opportunities on our events calendar.

For youth and others looking for seasonal work over the summer, come join our recreation team and help provide fun, active, and creative programs for Berkeley youth.

LINKS

Keep up with City of Berkeley news via our news page, email, or on Twitter @cityofberkeley

Continue Reading

Bay Area

Hyundai and Kia Vehicle Thefts Are on the Rise

Since December 2022, there has been a noticeable trend of Hyundai and KIA vehicles being stolen throughout the city. We believe that the increase may be in part because of a social media challenge that encourages the thefts. Since December, Hyundai and KIA vehicles have made up 38% of the total amount of vehicles stolen from Berkeley.

Published

1 week ago

on

March 14, 2023

By

According to a news release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Hyundai and Kia have developed theft deterrent software for vehicles that lack an immobilizer that can be provided free of charge.
According to a news release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Hyundai and Kia have developed theft deterrent software for vehicles that lack an immobilizer that can be provided free of charge.

Since December 2022, there has been a noticeable trend of Hyundai and KIA vehicles being stolen throughout the City. 

Since December 2022, there has been a noticeable trend of Hyundai and KIA vehicles being stolen throughout the city. We believe that the increase may be in part because of a social media challenge that encourages the thefts. Since December, Hyundai and KIA vehicles have made up 38% of the total amount of vehicles stolen from Berkeley. The vehicles targeted include earlier model Hyundai and Kia vehicles that are not equipped with an engine immobilizer.

According to a news release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Hyundai and Kia have developed theft deterrent software for vehicles that lack an immobilizer that can be provided free of charge.

The Department encourages owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles to:

  • Contact Kia or Hyundai to obtain their latest theft deterrent software,
  • Consider using a steering wheel lock for your parked vehicle,
  • If you cannot park in a garage, find the most well-travelled well-lit location to park your vehicle, and
  • If you see someone who appears to be trying to steal a vehicle, report it as soon as possible.

For emergencies, dial 911. For non-emergencies dial (510) 981-5900.

Keep up with City of Berkeley news via our news page, email, or on Twitter @cityofberkeley

Continue Reading

Subscribe to receive news and updates from the Oakland Post

* indicates required

CHECK OUT THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OAKLAND POST

ADVERTISEMENT

WORK FROM HOME

Home-based business with potential monthly income of $10K+ per month. A proven training system and website provided to maximize business effectiveness. Perfect job to earn side and primary income. Contact Lynne for more details: Lynne4npusa@gmail.com 800-334-0540

Facebook

Trending