After a veto by Youngkin, minimum wage will remain $12 in Virginia – Staunton News Leader
“In a statement following his veto, Youngkin argued that increasing the minimum wage to $15 by 2026 would raise costs on families and small businesses and jeopardize jobs. He said the increase failed to recognize regional economic differences across Virginia.
“‘Implementing a $15 per hour wage mandate may not impact Northern Virginia, where economic conditions create a higher cost of living, but this approach is detrimental for small businesses across the rest of Virginia, especially in Southwest and Southside,’ he said. ‘A one-size-fits-all mandate ignores the vast economic and geographic differences and undermines the ability to adapt to regional cost-of-living differences and market dynamics.'”
CCSE sent Virginia legislators in both parties an analysis of how to deal with regional wage disparities when raising the minimum wage. Will they consider a tiered approach or more local ability to make adjustments the next time around? See:
Allegheny County beefed up staff — except at Kane nursing homes – PublicSource
“Innamorato’s first official act was to raise the minimum pay for full-time county workers to $18 per hour for 2024, with plans to go to $22 by 2027. The plan is similar to one that county council adopted last year but Fitzgerald went to court to overturn.
“The immediate consequences of the plan may not be huge: 324 county employees last year earned below $18 per hour or the equivalent annual salary of $37,440 at 40 hours per week. Most of those were short of that threshold by $2,000 or less — and some may have received raises after 2023 ended.”