SHARE

New York To Raise Minimum Wage To $15

A phased-in boost in the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour will take effect in New York after Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislative leaders reached an agreement as part of a new 2016-17 budget deal approved late Thursday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey Klein and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced an agreement on the 2016-17 state budget.

Photo Credit: NYGovCuomo

Wages will begin to increase in January under terms of the plan, with New York City hitting to $15 within three years.

Workers in Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties, will see an increase to $10 at the end of 2016, then $1 each year after, reaching $15 on Dec. 31, 2021.

For workers in the rest of the state, the minimum wage would increase to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then another .70 each year after until reaching $12.50 on Dec. 31, 2020 – after which will continue to increase to $15 on an indexed schedule to be set by the Director of the Division of Budget in consultation with the Department of Labor.

Businesses that have fewer than 10 employees in New York City will get to $15 within four years.

"We believe that people who work hard should be able to earn a decent living and support a family with dignity," Cuomo said. "With a statewide $15 minimum wage and the nation’s only 12-week paid family leave program, we are going to prove that the economy can and should work for all."

The budget agreement includes spending in the following categories:

  • Total State Operating Funds: $96.2 billion; 2.0 percent growth
  • School Aid: $24.8 billion; 6.5 percent growth
  • Medicaid: $18.5 billion; 3.4 percent growth under the cap
  • Higher Education: $7.2 billion; 2.0 percent growth

Check back to Daily Voice for more coverage of the budget agreement.

to follow Daily Voice Armonk and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE