Initiative to up minimum wage is circulating

BONNERS FERRY — A grass roots initiative to raise the minimum wage in Idaho is spreading across the state.

More than 84,000 signatures are needed by April 30, 2014, for the initiative to go before voters next November.

Nearly eight percent of Idahoans are minimum wage earners and they are not all high school kids, said Jessica Chilcott at the October Community Coalition for Families meeting.

RaiseIdaho.org is petitioning for the minimum wage to be raised to $9.80 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.90 per hour for tipped employees by 2017 in Idaho. Currently the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour for non-tipped employees and $3.35 for tipped employees.

The initiative proposes to incrementally raise the minimum wage over the next few years. Beginning in January 2015, the initiative proposes the minimum wage be $8.10 per hour for non-tipped employees and $4.20 per hour for tipped employees. In 2016, the minimum would be $8.95 per hour and $5.50 per hour for tipped employees.

After Sept. 30, 2018, the initiative states the minimum wage rate should be calculated using the consumer price index. If the consumer price index declines, the minimum wage rate would not decrease.

“$9.80 per hour is not a living wage,” said Chilcott. “$15 per hour is what you have to earn to not take public assistance.”

The federal minimum wage is $7.25. Washington has the highest minimum wage of $9.19 per hour with it slated to increase to $9.32 per hour on Jan. 1, 2014. Washington raising their minimum wage can be looked at for modeling said Chilcott.

“A lot of employers in Boundary County are small,” said Sandy Ashworth, Boundary County Library director. “What is the economic impact on smaller businesses? The tax base difference (from Washington) is extraordinary.”

When people have more income they can spend more and more money goes back into the economy explained Chilcott. Judy Dirks added with a higher income there is less of a demand on services.

For more information or to volunteer to collect signatures, visit RaiseIdaho.org.