Snohomish Times: Business News - Snohomish Washington

Published: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
20 Dollars an Hour

Legislation to establish a $20.29/hour minimum wage across unincorporated King County has cleared a key committee. The proposal was passed by the King County Council’s Transportation, Economy, and Environment committee earlier today.

“Today’s committee vote to increase the minimum wage in unincorporated King County is a big step toward investing in the workers, families, and economy of every corner of our region. I’m proud and grateful of the work we’ve done in partnership with small businesses and labor partners in unincorporated King County to make sure that everyone can share in our county’s prosperity,” said King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, who first authored the legislation. “We are excited to see this legislation pass out of committee and make its way to full council for a final vote.”

Zahilay and council colleagues introduced the measure this past September alongside community and labor leaders. It is cosponsored by King County Councilmembers Rod Dembowski, Teresa Mosqueda, and Jorge L. Barón and the proposal was unveiled in Skyway, an unincorporated area of King County that has lagged in wages while surrounding cities have set their own higher minimums.

Urban unincorporated areas can often lag behind neighboring cities in economic measures, with wages being a major factor. Skyway, for instance, is currently held to the state minimum of $16.28 per hour but borders Tukwila, where the minimum wage is $20.29, and Seattle, where the minimum wage is $19.97. Nearby SeaTac has a minimum wage of $19.71 per hour for hospitality and transportation industry employers.

There are two key exceptions to this hourly minimum wage rate. Employers with 15 or fewer employees with an annual gross revenue of less than $2.0 million would have an hourly minimum wage rate of $3.00 less ($17.29). The reduction would decrease annually by $0.50 until no reduction is remaining in 2030. Meanwhile, employers with 15 or fewer employees with an annual gross revenue of $2.0 million or greater and employers with more than 15 employees but fewer than 500 employees would have an hourly minimum wage rate of $2.00 less ($18.29). The reduction would decrease annually by $1.00 until no reduction is remaining in 2026.

The full King County Council is expected to take a final vote on the measure in the coming weeks. While immediate passage would increase the minimum wage to $20.29/hour, the ordinance would not go into effect until January 1, 2025, making the new wage also subject to an increase based on inflation. Inflation rates will not be calculated or known until this coming fall.

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Nominate Your Favorite Mother
Mothers have the hardest job on the planet, so the team at CM Heating and Cooling wants to show their appreciation by gifting a free HVAC unit to a local mom to recognize the unparalleled dedication of mothers

Friday, April 12, 2024

Little Bear Creek Advance Mitigation site
Snohomish County Public Works Wins American Public Works Association (APWA) 2024 Project of the Year Award

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

PUD Launches TREE Power Grant Program
Program helps encourage tree planting on public lands to reduce energy demand

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

A record year for electrics
Registrations jumped 43% and sales accounted for about 20% of all vehicles sold

Monday, August 21, 2023

Peoples Bank Impact Grants
Peoples Bank is excited to announce the launch of its highly anticipated Impact Grant program, designed to empower and uplift communities by supporting projects and initiatives that drive positive change

Friday, August 18, 2023

SR 9/SR 204 roundabout closed
SR 9/SR 204 roundabout closed for nighttime striping Aug. 19-21 in Lake Stevens

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Power generation facilities
Requirements for fossil fuel, power generation facilities to be focus of committee

Thursday, February 23, 2023

SHB 1333
SHB 1333, to criminalize free speech and independent thought in Washington state

Sunday, June 12, 2022

Capital gains income tax battle
The next steps on whether Washington will remain income tax free will be in the courts, as the I-1929 ballot campaign to repeal the capital gains income tax has suspended its activities.

Friday, April 15, 2022

Vancouver school superintendent seeks to end learning excellence program
Vancouver public school superintendent Jeff Snell (annual salary $281,000) says he wants to expel students from the districts popular self-contained Highly Gifted classes and end the program permanently.

SNOHOMISH TIMES BUSINESS NEWS