Answers: Minimum wage

' What do you think of a proposal that would increase the minimum wage in Johnson County? Should county supervisors have the right to set wages within their county's borders?

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directly to the consumers. Those consumers are the same people that would be making higher wages. Sure, they might be making more money, but in turn their standard of living will increase in costs for food, child care and all sorts of goods and services. If someone who has to work 40 plus hours per week at $7.50 per hour just to make ends meet will not see much relief when their child care providers are forced to pay higher wages also and jack their rates up to cover those costs.

Brent S.

North Liberty

No, supervisors should not set a wage level. If people want more money, go to school and acquire a skill.

Brian C.

Cedar Rapids

The board of supervisors has no business dealing with this as most businesses pay above $10 per hour.

Dan H.

Coralville

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Samantha F.: Getting a guaranteed higher minimum wage than the national average would keep me in Iowa City. This is very progressive and will only put Johnson County ahead.

Paul S.: They are well within their right to do it, but if the increase is too much, it's a small enough area that people would go outside the county. The minimum wage is not a silver bullet to end poverty. Priority one is that education and job training is accessible and affordable

Zach L.: Bad idea. Let the free market determine the wages. If no one wants to work a minimum wage job then employers will be forced to offer higher pay.

Erin K.: People need to think about small businesses. There are small, local businesses in Johnson County that wouldn't be able to afford the increase. The prices at stores also will rise so that they are able to pay their workers more. It's an endless cycle.

Chelsea L.: I think minimum wage should be raised. There are too many people working 40 hours a week who can't get by.

Jennifer F.: What makes Johnson County so special? There are plenty of other counties in Iowa with more people.

Chris G.: Minimum wage is not a livable wage and it should be.

John P.: Why is it just Johnson County? Why not ALL of Iowa?

Patricia R.: People who can't live on the current minimum wage need to consider getting trained for a better job or go back to school. These jobs are not for families, they are beginning wages for people just starting out or students.

Rosemary P.: I don't think Johnson County should do this alone.

Tami S.: Minimum wage should reflect the cost of living per state. California should have a higher minimum wage then Iowa hence the cost of living

Salina M.: It's a great idea, folks working full-time in a nation as wealthy as ours absolutely deserve to live above the poverty level. Who in their right mind actually wants to see people live in poverty?

Kevin S.: The only winner in a much higher minimum wage is the government because it will bring in a lot more tax. But prices will go up so it will not help the lower incomes that it is supposedly trying to help.

Robin J.: Hard working people deserve to make a wage they can live on. That's the bottom line.

Dennis S.: Yes, they should, but they must be careful - it's a lot of power. They have to know or admit they are a spokesman for the electorate.

Doc H.: Yes, but not by county supervisors ... that would give them too much power.

Brian R.: Increasing the minimum wage will have many more negative affects then positive especially when it comes to locally owned small businesses that operate on minimal margins.

Dawnetta S.: The more I think things through the more I agree raising minimum wage is a bad idea.

Kyle P.: If you think that higher wages won't raise the prices of everything else, you should get the hint of why you are paid low wages.

Kathy W.: People against raising minimum wage have no idea what its like. I'd like all of you that make a good wage to live off minimum wage for a year. You would change your tune!

Rich R.: You might as well try to legislate away the laws of physics. When you mess with supply-and-demand economics, you will pay the consequences. Greg T.: if they want to drive/keep out businesses, sure. Send them up here to Black Hawk County. We can use new businesses.

Rich D.: Want out of a minimum wage job and don't have the money to get an education or experience? Join the military.