Minimum Wage Getting a Bump
December 30th, 2014 by flanewsMinimum wage workers will be getting a boost in 2015. As Matt Galka tells us, that could add up to more spending for everyone.
Rob Bazemore is a successful deli owner. Business is typically good in the shadow of the state capitol. He doesn’t expect that to change even though he’ll have to start paying his employees more.
“12 cents doesn’t sound like much but it has to come from somewhere,” said Bazemore.
Florida’s minimum wage will go from $7.93 to $8.05 on New Year’s Day. It’s expected to benefit more than 360 thousand low-wage workers. Bazemore says he’s all for it, but sometimes that’s the reasons places have to raise prices.
“Without raising prices or something I already buy going down, then that 12 cents comes directly out of my bottom line,” he said.
While nobody’s going to reject a raise, experts say the 12 cent increase might not add up to all that much for the economy.
Florida TaxWatch says the jury is out on how much of an impact it can have on the state.
“Whether or not the money will be reinvested in the economy as additional spending dollars is yet to be seen,” said communications director Morgan McCord.
A 12 cent increase means a full time minimum wage employee would make about $250 dollars extra a year before taxes.
“Florida’s economy is built on sales taxes and consumption, when our minimum wage is only going up by 12 cents an hour, we’re probably not going to see a lot of individuals with more money to spend at stores and things like that,” said McCord.
20 other states will join Florida in raising their wages in 2015. Florida’s increase is tied to a state constitutional amendment from 2004 that raises the minimum wage to adjust for the cost of living.
Posted in State News | Comments Off on Minimum Wage Getting a Bump