Updated

The recently passed “living wage” in Milwaukee County already could be spurring job growth — in the public sector.

Taxpayers are being asked to spend nearly $218,000 a year to hire three new compliance officers to oversee the county’s union-influenced living-wage law.

The county’s Audit Services Division on Thursday will present a resolution on the potential staffing increase to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.

The proposal contradicts repeated claims by Supervisor David Bowen that the $11.32-an-hour living wage he authored with Service Employee International Union-affiliated officials would not cost taxpayers because businesses contracting with the county would absorb the added expenses.

Supervisor Deanna Alexander said she never believed those statements from Bowen, which is why she invited him to participate in a March debate on the economic impact of the living wage.

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