LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) Minimum-wage workers in New Mexico's second most populous city will be getting raises. The Las Cruces City Council voted 4-3 to raise the minimum wage in the city from New Mexico's $7.50 hourly rate to $8 an hour in July 2015 and to $8.50 in January 2016. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that the vote followed three hours of debate Monday.
Supporters said the increases are necessary for workers and reasonable for businesses, while councilors voting against the measure said the increases doesn't do enough to help struggling families.
Las Cruces voters ultimately could decide the issue. A group is proposing a three-phased measure to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2017.
