Kansas City Council committee to discuss minimum wage

The Kansas City Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee met to discuss a proposed ordinance on a minimum wage increase for certain city employees. If approved, the increase would apply to workers at places that receive at least 25 percent of funding from the city.

The Kansas City Council’s Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee met Tuesday to discuss a proposed ordinance on minimum wage.

Kansas City, Mo. Mayor Quinton Lucas wants a humane wage for workers at entities that get 25 percent or more of their annual funding from the city.

Voters approved a minimum humane wage for city workers of $10 per hour in August 2017.

Annual pay raises of $1.25 per hour for those workers would continue until the minimum humane wage is $15 per hour in 2022.

“The City Council recognizes the benefits of a humane wage requirement, such as decreasing the need for social services for individuals and families and creating economic benefit for the city,” according to the ordinance.

If the ordinance is approved by the committee and later by the full city council, those workers would be paid:

  • Beginning May 1, 2021: $12.50;
  • Beginning September 1, 2021: $13.75;
  • Beginning September 1, 2022: $15