Jackie, I think you and I are in the 'same ballpark'.
Take home pay is net take home pay after required deductions.
I assume that $15 or $16 / hour is a typical pay. I hope no one here expects those County employees to work for less than McDonalds pays. $15 / hour is not a middle class wage [[I came up with 31.2K/year, which I believe is 'below average' nationally; a 'working class' wage, not 'middle class' wage).
The real issue, as Jackie indicates, is the CUMULATVE effects of a pay cut, increase in other deductions, e.g., health insurance, pension, etc.
A 5% cut in hourly wages can easily become say 10 -15% if there are significant increases in other required deductions. Health insurance costs are obviously concern for all workers.
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