Of the responses received by the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber, 90
percent are opposed to the increase while 10 percent are in favor of
it. Andi Hake, executive director of the Lincoln/Logan County
Chamber, said that beyond support or opposition, she wanted to know
what unintended consequences may result if the proposal is passed.
"Our local businesses told us they would be forced to increase
their product cost, which would be passed on to consumers.
Nonprofits told us they would have to potentially cut some vital
services to their clients with more dollars being allocated to
payroll, while others told us they would be forced to just close
their doors, or shift their hiring focus to more skilled employees,
leaving the lesser skilled workers out of the labor market. All of
these are unintended consequences that will have a significant
impact on the marketplace," Hake said.
Other chambers of commerce throughout the region, including
Peoria, Pekin, McLean County, Springfield, Canton and Champaign
County, also conducted surveys with their membership.
[to top of second column] |
Combined, more than 1,150 people responded, and the results were
overwhelmingly against the proposal, with 86 percent of respondents
in opposition to it. With regard to consequences, 25 percent said a
minimum wage hike would force them to increase prices; 21 percent
said they would have to reduce staff in order to compensate for the
wage increase; and 21 percent said wage creep would affect their
business negatively.
The current minimum wage increase proposal is
Senate Bill 68. It is the same bill introduced last session by
Sen. Kimberly Lightford. This bill would increase the minimum wage
50 cents per year until it reaches $10.50, which is estimated to be
comparable to the minimum wage when it was first passed in the
1960s. The wage would increase annually based on the Consumer Price
Index. This bill would also remove many of the current exemptions
for agricultural workers, wait staff and others.
[Text from file received from
the Lincoln/Logan County
Chamber of Commerce] |