Letter: Don’t tie minimum wage to inflation

Regarding the March 5 editorial 'Paying competitive wages makes sense for UI Housing and Dining”:

Details are important. A majority are in favor of increasing the minimum wage. Even I as a small-business owner support it, which it will immediately have an impact on my labor costs. But indexing it to inflation is a nail in the coffin of small business. As a long-term owner, inflation varies based on many factors such as competition, government intrusion (additional laws and TIF projects) and population growth. The latter being practically zero in Cedar Rapids and Iowa as you know.

Those who have never had to operate and live off a small business cannot imagine the impact such a detail would have but I can and do. The uncertainty is not something that will encourage new small business growth.

Jeff Frese

Cedar Rapids