Dear Senator,
Minimum wage should not be a fixed statewide (or nation wide) X number of dollars.
Minimum wage should be a formula, simple and elegant, that reflects the needs of the low-wage worker, the area in which they work and live, and the general economic capability of the region.
It’s pretty easy to create formulas that dynamically shift with their base input. I’m sure that you have access to lots of good state metrics. But here’s a simple example.
Using rent is a natural minimum wage metric as it reflects costs that minimum wage earners would have. I’m using average here but median is often a better number to use.
Ventura County:
Average monthly rent: $900/mo.
Suggest minimum wage: $900 / 100 * 2 = $18/hr.
Bosco County:
Average monthly rent: $600/mo.
Suggest minimum wage: $600 / 100 * 2 = $12/hr.
My point is don’t advocate a fixed number that has to be altered every couple of years. Design a formula that can reflect a changing society.
Anonymole - apocryphal agitators 