To afford a one-bedroom apartment in metro Atlanta, workers must make at least $19.12 an hour. But that is not the case for the city of South Fulton.
The minimum wage for city employees is currently set at $15 per hour, according to a city press release.
khalid kamau is the mayor of the newly incorporated city. He says to stay competitive, it’s essential that full-time city employees make a livable wage–himself included.
“It’s hard. I struggle to make ends meet. I think about getting other jobs all the time, but I’ve made this commitment,” he said.
Relief may be coming for the staff, though. The city is conducting a compensation study this fall to ensure that a $5 bump will be enough.