Howard County Council Passes Bill to Raise Minimum Wage to $16 by 2026 – CBS Baltimore

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ) – The Howard County Council passed a bill that would increase the county’s minimum wage to $16 an hour over the next several years.

During Monday’s meeting, council members voted 4-1 in favor of the measure to pass the statewide minimum wage, which is expected to rise to $14 by 2024 and less than a year. little for smaller employers.

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County Executive Calvin Ball has 10 days to sign the bill, which becomes law approximately two months after receiving his signature.

The current minimum wage in Howard County is $11.75 an hour, which is the same as in Maryland.

One of the bill’s sponsors, Christiana Rigby, said passing the bill means many families will no longer have to choose between buying groceries and paying rent.

“This act is a powerful step toward a fairer and more livable wage for working families in Howard County,” said Councilman Rigby.

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The Maryland Center for Economic Policy estimates the measure would benefit one in four workers in Howard County, or about 40,000 employees.

By law, the minimum wage will increase gradually over the next four years based on the size of their employer and whether they work for Howard County government.

Here is the pay rise schedule outlined in the law:

Employers

• $14 an hour effective April 1, 2022
• $15 an hour effective January 1, 2023
• $16 an hour effective January 1, 2025

Small employer

• $13 an hour effective April 1, 2022
• $14 an hour effective January 1, 2023
• $15 an hour effective January 1, 2024
• $16 an hour effective January 1, 2026

Howard County

• $15 an hour effective July 1, 2022
• $16 an hour effective July 1, 2024

To put those numbers into perspective, Maryland’s minimum wage to increase to $12.50 by 2022 and $12.20 for smaller employers. Those numbers will grow to $13.25 and $12.80 in 2023, and $14 and $13.40 in 2024.

Councilmember Opel Jones, who co-sponsored the bill, said the law would provide much-needed relief for thousands of low-wage workers, many of whom are ethnic minorities.

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“Lead and legislate through the lens of equity by not delaying economic justice and prosperity for one in four families who may have difficulty providing adequate housing,” Jones said. , appropriate clothing and food for their families.