An Oceanside City Councilman is proposing a tax credit for companies who hire Oceanside residents and pay them at least $60,000 a year.
Councilman Christopher Rodriguez says he wants to reward Oceanside businesses who hire locally.
The proposal, which the City Council will initially discuss Wednesday, would pay Oceanside companies $2,500 for each new hire who lives in Oceanside and is paid that minimum salary.
"It's a big problem, housing affordability in North County," Rodriguez said. "North County, Coastal Oceanside, we're up and coming. It's more expensive to live here for sure."
Rodriguez said his proposal is a starting point and that he is willing to move on the numbers based on council feedback. If there is support, city staff could analyze the proposal and return in 120 days with a concrete plan.
Business groups such as the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce expressed support for the plan.
Peter Rodriguez, an operations manager at Beachfront Only, a vacation rental property management firm, said the credit could help his company. He says Beachfront Only often hires Oceanside residents because they are close to most of their properties. The company has two openings that pay about $60,000 a year.
"The ability to have one of our assistant managers down the street is kind of a selling point," he said, noting that he did not plan to specify Oceanside resident in a job ad.
