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Santa Fe presents preliminary civic engagement on proposed $17.50 living wage; business responses mixed
Summary
City staff and partners reported survey results and stakeholder meetings about a proposed living wage increase to $17.50. City and Chamber surveys showed broad resident support but mixed business views; staff said additional studies and small‑business support programs would accompany further committee work.
Community Development Director Alisa Montoya and Office of Economic Development staff presented preliminary results from civic engagement on a proposed city living wage during the City Council meeting on Oct. 8.
Montoya summarized outreach that produced two parallel surveys (a City of Santa Fe survey with more than 600 responses and a Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce business survey with 67 respondents), committee endorsements and community conversations. She said the Economic Development Advisory Committee voted 6–2 to endorse the living wage proposal.
What staff reported
Montoya told the council the city survey is bilingual and distributed widely; she said 77% of respondents live in Santa Fe and that nearly three‑quarters of respondents supported raising the city’s living wage to $17.50 per hour. She said respondents repeatedly identified housing affordability, childcare and transportation as related issues that must be addressed alongside wages.
On business feedback, Montoya said the…
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