RAISING NEW MEXICO’S MINIMUM WAGE WILL BE A PRIORITY FOR MAJORITY DEMOCRATS IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. TWO PROPOSALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED…ONE RAISING THE WAGE TO 12 DOLLARS AN HOUR…THE OTHER TO 15-DOLLARS. CAROL WIGHT, C-E-O OF THE NEW MEXICO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, SAYS SHE DOESN’T THINK THE HIGHER FIGURE HAS MUCH CHANCE OF PASSING:
WIGHT SAYS RESTAURANTS HAVE ONLY A FIVE PERCENT PROFIT MARGIN. AND EVEN A TWO DOLLAR AN HOUR INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE WOULD COST A BUSINESS OWNER WITH 25 EMPLOYEES AN EXTRA 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.
