Florida's Minimum Wage Is Going Up
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) - Florida's minimum wage is going up next year.
The nickel increase to $8.10 an hour will go into effect on January 1st, 2017. It is the fifth-smallest hourly increase since Florida established a state minimum wage in 2005.
Some lawmakers and labor groups want more, pushing for a $15 an hour minimum wage for entry level workers.
"Increasing the minimum wage is good not only for the worker, it is good for those companies that employ them. We've got to focus on all levels of government so we can restore the American dream so that everyone can have a shot at it and that's why Florida needs $15," said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Those opposed to the $15 an hour minimum wage say it would put too much strain on businesses and hurt the state's job market.
Under a constitutional amendment passed by Florida voters in 2004, the Department of Economic Opportunity calculates the state minimum-wage rate each year based on increases in a federal consumer price index that reflects changes in the costs of food, clothing, shelter, gas, medical bills, drugs and other goods and services used in daily living.
The index, which reflects the 12-month period ending Sept. 1, rose by less than 1 percent in the past year. Florida's $8.10 wage is above the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.