Store owner not sold on IL minimum wage hike proposal

MARION, IL (KFVS) - Some illinois democratic lawmakers are working to nearly double Illinois' statewide minimum wage.

Governor J.B Pritzker campaigned to raise the minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 per-hour.

Right now the senate is negotiating a bill that would fulfill that promise.

The owner of a health food store in Marion sees value in honoring his employee's hard work, but a mandated wage increase could mean he'd have to raise prices for the items he sells.

He hopes lawmakers consider other plans.

“I think the way to stimulate and grow salaries is to reduce taxes on personal income, and to incentivize businesses to grow and add jobs instead of artificially increasing salary which may actually reduce the potential to have more jobs and or business opportunity,” said store owner Rob Landes.

"There may be less opportunity for hours at their business, there may be less opportunity to create or add additional jobs," Landes added. "People may find that goods and services that they try to consume here in Illinois increase in price because of those wages. That's how its going to effect the consumers and other people."

Lawmakers are still working to come to an agreement about how long the transition would take or if the rate should be raised statewide.

Supporters hope to get legislation to Governor Pritzker before he delivers his first budget proposal later this month.

Copyright 2019 KFVS. All rights reserved.