Tucson OK’s measure to gradually raise minimum wage to $15

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TUCSON, Arizona (AP) – Tucson voters overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to vote to gradually raise the minimum wage in Arizona’s second largest city to $ 15 an hour by 2025.

Unofficial results led voters to approve Proposition 206 by about 2 to 1.

The current minimum wage in Arizona is $ 12.15 an hour, with annual increases tied to inflation.

The Tucson measure, which was put on the city’s ballot through an initiative campaign, would raise the minimum wage in Tucson to $ 15 an hour by January 1, 2025, and then tie it to the inflation rate. From 2022, the minimum wage is to be increased in several steps.

Election supporters estimated the city’s 85,000 residents will receive pay increases.

Proponents said the minimum wage hike was long overdue to keep pace with the cost of living, while opponents said the move would increase an administrative burden for business owners.

Tucson’s electoral effort also included the creation of a new city labor standards department to investigate employee complaints and employer violations.

Flagstaff voters approved a higher minimum wage in the city in 2016. Wages there reached $ 15 an hour this year and have increased annually thereafter.

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