State law prohibits higher local minimum wages than that of the state.
Kansas City Minimum Wage Case Goes to Court
The Missouri Supreme Court recently
announced that it would take on the case involving the legality of Kansas
City’s ballot measure to increase the minimum wage. Arguments will begin on
Oct. 6.
In September 2015, Jackson County
Presiding Circuit Judge Justine Del Muro ruled that a petition initiative
proposing to hike Kansas City’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 be removed
from the November ballot. This ruling came after a new state law (HB 722) was
passed that prohibited localities from establishing higher base wages than the
state minimum of $7.65 per hour. While Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed the bill, the
General Assembly overrode his veto in September 2015. The current appeal case
claims there were problems with the Legislature’s drafting and passage of the
law.
Meanwhile, the state Supreme Court
will also begin hearing arguments for the St. Louis minimum wage case on Oct. 6
as well. The St. Louis City Council passed a minimum wage increase after Gov.
Jay Nixon vetoed HB 722 and before the Legislature overturned the veto. A
Missouri circuit court judge also struck down this increase.
Stay tuned this fall for updates on
both cities’ cases.
