Fall 2023 City Council Public Testimony: One Minute Sample Script

 [Introduction]

 Good [Morning / Evening] Councilmembers,

My name is [name], and I am the [position title] at [agency name].

 I am here today to speak in favor of wage increases for nonprofit human service workers. I want to thank the council for supporting wage equity and ask that you fully fund the inflation adjustment and wage increase included in the mayor’s budget proposal.

Low wages are preventing [agency name] from being able to fulfill our mission.

[middle or body of testimony, where you tell your story]

[insert a story here from your program that speaks to the challenges of providing quality community services. Talk about low staffing and high turnover due to low wages and the impact that has on your ability to provide services]

 This section should contain 60-70 words, or 3-4 sentences.

Example 1, Neighborhood House:

“In the fall of 2019, Neighborhood House had 27 vacancies; the start of school had to be postponed twice because we didn’t have qualified staff. High turnover makes it difficult to build lasting relationships with the families we serve. Parents often pull their children out of our programs when new, inexperienced staff replace the workers those families previously developed relationships with.  

Example 2: Compass Housing Alliance:

“Compass Housing Alliance is struggling to meet the needs of unhoused people because we are struggling to meet the needs of our staff. Our case managers are frequently asked to work back-to-back 24-hour shifts and often must take a second job just to make ends meet.

These extreme working conditions influenced the decision by Compass leaders not to renew our severe weather contract with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. Low wages have contributed to a lack of adequate emergency shelter options for those living unsheltered and exposed to the elements. 

[Conclusion]

Low wages for human service workers are impacting everyone who calls Seattle home.

Again, my name is [name], and I urge you to fully fund the inflation adjustment and wage increase included in the mayor’s budget.

Thank you for your time.