The Dryden District Chamber of Commerce is concerned with a minimum wage increase of $15 an hour effective 2019.
Chamber President Michelle Price says between taxes, regulations and employee expenses, many businesses are already struggling to make ends meet now.
Price says she’s worried that this mandatory increase will force businesses to do one of several things; lay off present employees, cease the hiring of additional staff, and increase prices of goods sold to consumers.
She notes another concern business owners have is what this will do to the skilled workers that are presently earning a higher than minimum wage, suggesting their wages may need to go up to be fair.
