Policy Update: Proposed Overtime Regulation Changes & Mayoral Forum Highlights
DOL Overtime Regulation Changes
The Department of Labor announced proposed changes to current regulations governing salaried positions and their overtime compensation. Among the proposed changes, the minimum salary threshold that exempts executive and administrative professional employees from overtime pay could be raised to $679 per week ($35,308 per year) from current rate of $455 per week ($23,660 per year), which was put into place 15 years ago.
If this rate change could have an effect on your organization, please consider making a comment through the Department of Labor’s online portal. The deadline for online submissions is May 21, 2019. Click here if you’d like to read the National Council of Nonprofit’s analysis of the DOL proposal.
Kansas City Mayoral Forum Highlights
Nonprofit Connect joined with three other organizations, including League of Women Voters, Northland Progress, and Winnetonka High School, to help produce the first mayoral forum in the Kansas City Star’s series of six mayoral forums, one in each of the six city council districts. While most of the forum was fairly typical, covering issues from infrastructure to the airport, there were some highlights important for our members.
The most noticeable of which was that both candidates mentioned, when responding to various issue questions, how essential nonprofit partners were in the metro area to facilitating change and implementing plans and strategies that better our community. Both candidates mentioned nonprofits like Visit KC, Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Mid-America Regional Council, and Charlotte Street Foundation, all members of Nonprofit Connect.
Other issues of note:
• Both candidates are opposed to bringing the Pre-K tax back up for a vote.
• Both candidates would be open to terming Kansas City a “Sanctuary City,” but noted that this is not possible given current state laws.
• Councilman Quinton Lucas mentioned how important the 2020 census is in gauging how to proceed with connecting all parts of the city with public transportation.
• Councilwoman Jolie Justus discussed expanding the green ordinance for public buildings to decrease KC’s carbon footprint, and expanding access to fresh food in area “food deserts."
We hope this information is helpful in making your choice for the next mayor of Kansas City, Missouri.
