By Brenda Showalter, The Republic
bshowalter@therepublic.com
Increasing the federal minimum wage from the current $5.15 an hour would give some workers a raise, but how much help it would provide is a matter of debate.
Some believe a legal mandate to raise minimum wage could hurt workers, forcing some businesses to reduce their workforce or trim benefits.
Others contend increasing the minimum wage is long overdue, with the last increase approved 10 years ago.
According to local social service agencies, Columbus workers cannot survive on minimum wage without working a second job or seeking public assistance.
Someone who works 40 hours a week at $5.15 an hour would make an annual wage of $10,712, only slightly above the federal poverty guideline of $10,210.
Two people working 40-hours a week would make a combined $21,424 - an amount that would make it difficult to pay for housing, food, clothing, medical expenses, child care and other household costs.
$5.15 not enough
"I can't say increasing minimum wage won't help, but with rent averaging $500 a month, it's very difficult to get by," said Elizabeth Kestler, executive director of Love Chapel.
Columbus residents visit Love Chapel's food pantry to help fill gaps when they run out of money to buy food and pay bills. They also request financial assistance for housing, medical and other expenses.
Most of Love Chapel's clients have jobs, although others are elderly, disabled or between jobs.
"Unless they make $13 an hour, most people in our community still struggle," Kestler said.
Ruthanne Rape also sees the challenges faced by people who are working but still cannot cover all their expenses.
As project coordinator of Family Self Sufficiency, Rape said minimum-wage jobs do not cover this community's high cost of living.
"It's not a matter of increasing minimum wage, at least not in Bartholomew County," Rape said.
"If you're married and have one or two children, you have to be making a whole lot more than minimum wage to support your family."
She points to the large percentage of families in Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. who rely on free and reduced-priced lunches for their children.
During the 2005-06 school year, 36 percent of BCSC students qualified for free or reduced-price lunches.
To qualify, students' families must meet federal poverty guidelines.
Rape fears that businesses that are forced to increase wages will either cut back on workers or trim benefits, such as health insurance.
A study conducted in 2002, commissioned by Wider Opportunities for Women and Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues, found that an adult living with a preschooler in Bartholomew County would need to earn $10.82 per hour to be self-sufficient.
A report by the Indiana Institute for Working Families and ICHHI released in February found that one in four working families in Indiana struggle to meet basic needs.
"The current (minimum wage) rate of $5.15 per hour fails to provide adequate income to support a family," the report stated.
Making choices
J.R. Meaux of Columbus said he can't pay all of his bills on one job and often works two or three at a time.
"Everything is just so high in Columbus," Meaux said. "Every dime I make goes to bills."
Meaux also struggles to get employers to give him enough hours.
When he recently landed a new job at a fast-food restaurant, he started at $6.25 an hour, but was being scheduled only one day a week.
He's hoping when the weather warms, he can find work on a construction crew.
"I'm just a good guy down on his luck," said 47-year-old Meaux, adding that with all the hours he works, it would be difficult to find time to go back to school to receive more training.
To offer any help to lowincome workers, Meaux believes, minimum wage should be raised to at least $7 or $8, although $9 to $10 would be better.
Priscilla Scalf, director of Eastside Community Center, said she sees residents making close to minimum wage unable to pay such expenses as child care and prescription medication.
"Even though there are jobs out there, they need to work two or three to make ends meet," Scalf said.
Scalf added that she has heard some residents talk about having to decide which of their prescriptions to buy because they cannot afford to pay rent and buy all of their medicine.
"It's almost like the system is not set up for them to move forward," Scalf said.
She agrees with others who wonder if an increase in minimum wage will truly help those who need it.
She fears that employers will cut benefits to their workers if they are required to raise wages.