After some eight months of debate, Lexington’s city council has approved a minimum wage increase. Council heard public comments Thursday night right up until the last minute.
After hearing comments from more than 30 residents, followed by discussion among council members, a vote on the proposal to raise the minimum wage was taken.
The council voted 9-6 in favor of upping the minimum wage to $10.10 over three years. The first increase will be seen in checks next July. Last minute arguments came from supporters and opponents of the measure. Steve Polston says he works with the homeless to help them find jobs. “There’s kind of a magical number that we see and that is about the double digit, about ten dollars an hour," Polston said. "Those people tend to stay in the jobs."
Janey Moores has run a business for 44 years. She told council that women owned businesses are struggling. “We can’t take another nickel adding on to us which is really what a minimum increase would be, is like another tax on us,” said Moores.
Among those casting a no vote was council member Kevin Stinnett, who says workforce development creates bigger pay opportunities. “We have to create a system within this government," Stinnett said. "That's our role, to help people make the most they can make, not focus on the minimum they can earn. Who wants to stay at the minimum their whole life?”
Proposal sponsor Jennifer Mossotti says the city has a history of leading the way with the passing of a fairness ordinance in 1999 and a smoking ban in 2003. “Lexington’s urban county council is once again standing on the threshold of local history,” said Mossotti.
Mayor Jim Gray said he would sign the ordinance. Following the high profile vote, the council also acted to place a proposal to remove the payroll tax obligation for minimum wage earners into committee.
