Tacoma on the path to a new minimum wage, early election results show
Nov 4, 2015, 5:30 AM | Updated: 1:34 pm
The latest ballot results for Tacoma's Initiative No. 1, which could raise the minimum wage in the city. (City of Tacoma)
(City of Tacoma)
Tacoma voters are favoring an increase to the minimum wage within the city with 58 percent for the increase.
How much the minimum wage will rise was yet another question posed to voters, who are leaning toward $12 in early ballot counts.
A total of 14,094 people voted for the measure in early counts as of 8:16 p.m. Tuesday. Voting against the measure were 9,925 residents.
A total of 71 percent of residents are in favor of the second option to increase the minimum wage to $12 by 2018. Another option is on the ballot, to increase the minimum wage to $15, but voters were rejecting that choice, according to early counts.
Check the latest ballot results for council positions, measures and more
Tacoma’s minimum wage ballot measure is a bit different than other Washington communities that have passed similar actions. The state’s minimum wage is currently set at $9.47 per hour.
Options
Tacoma’s Initiative Measure No. 1 comes in two parts. It first asks voters if the city should raise the minimum wage. If voters decide that the minimum wage should be increased, then further options come into play.
If voters decide that the minimum wage should be raised, then they are asked which of these two options should go into effect.
• Option 1: Asks whether the city should implement a $15 minimum wage immediately. It would also institute a commission to monitor its implementation, and adjust the minimum wage for inflation over time.
• Option 2: Asks voters if the city should phase in a mandatory minimum wage up to $12 by 2018. The minimum wage would be adjusted according to the Consumer Price Index over time, and every two years an impact study would be conducted on the minimum wage.
