Florida voters choose to increase minimum wage to $15; here’s how that may impact local businesses

ORLANDO, Fla. — The presidential race was the biggest issue on the ballot, but Florida voters were also faced with making a decision on six proposed amendments to the state’s constitution.

One of the most controversial of the six was amendment two: whether to give minimum wage workers a boost in pay.

Florida voters decided to raise minimum wage to $15 an hour.

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The amendment needed at least 60% voter approval to pass.

The new increase will take place over the next six years.

Minimum wage will go up to $10 an hour starting next year, followed by a dollar increase each year until it reaches $15, which would be in 2026.

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Any future minimum wage increases will revert to being adjusted annually for inflation.

Each increase will take place on Sept. 30.

The amendment has been a longtime push by attorney John Morgan, who said Wednesday he feels like this is a victory for Florida.

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“What we did yesterday was immediately improve the lives of 2.5 million households,” Morgan said.

But local small business owners like Evan Dimov said they’re worried.

“It’s not that I don’t want to increase anybody’s pay, I’m all for it. It’s just, can I afford? And where’s the money’s coming from?” Dimov said.

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There were five other amendments on the ballots. Floridians passed all but two of them.

Amendment one, a citizenship requirement to vote in elections was approved.

It is already a requirement, but it the amendment changed the wording in the state’s constitution to be more direct.

Amendments five and six also passed.

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Amendment five helps homeowners hold onto property tax money a little longer. Amendment six gives a property tax discount to spouses of certain deceased veterans.

Meanwhile, amendments three and four didn’t reach the required 60% threshold to pass.

Amendment three would have made Florida an open primary state. Amendment four would have required future amendments to be passed twice.

Click here to see the results.

Cox Media Group