The proposal to raise Madison's minimum wage to $7.75 was opposed by most members of the business community but supported by other community members in a debate before Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, city council members and members from two city commissions Thursday night.
Wisconsin Merchants Federation representative Jennifer Alexander said raising Madison's minimum wage above the state's would have a negative impact on Madison businesses.
\A local minimum wage puts employers at a competitive disadvantage, forcing them to endure high labor costs,"" she said. ""The proposed increase will have a damaging effect on the message that the city of Madison sends to the business community.""
However, Juliet Brodie, a clinical assistant professor at UW-Madison Law School, said the current minimum wage is unjust and it is difficult for people living on minimum wage to stand up for themselves.
""Many of them do not have the luxury of participating in democracy,"" she said.
Some community members said they had conflicting concerns about the proposal.
Owner of Mother Fool's Coffee House, 1101 Williamson St., Stephanie Rearick said she supports efforts to raise the minimum wage but has concerns about the proposal.
""I know a number of small business owners are concerned, including myself, about this measure's potential for increasing the disparity between large corporations and small businesses partly just because large corporations have deep pockets they can reach into to make up the higher wages,"" she said.
The City Council will vote on the proposal this spring. Until then, the Equal Opportunities Commission and Economic Development Commission will analyze the potential impact of the proposed wage increase and make a recommendation to the City Council.
Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, said she continues to support the proposed ordinance as she did before the debate, but that she thinks it could be improved.
""I think it's important for it to go through the council process because we did hear some concerns saying that we can probably tweak the ordinance a little bit to make it a bit easier on some of the businesses. We want to make sure we don't drive our small businesses out and just bring all chains into Madison,"" she said.
