Under legislation approved by a 4-1 vote last week, the Howard County Council decided it’s time to raise Howard’s minimum wage to $16 per hour by 2026. The decision brought only modest objections — from within the council and from the broader community — and so it was hardly surprising when County Executive Calvin Ball signed it into law on Monday. This may be because Howard is not only Maryland’s wealthiest subdivision on a per-household basis but it is also heir to pioneering developer James Rouse’s vision for Columbia as a model community without race, religious or class segregation. The lone vote against the bill, from council member David Yungmann, came with concerns that local businesses would be disadvantaged compared to those in neighboring jurisdictions and a belief that the state of Maryland may yet take broader action on wages.
Mr. Yungmann will likely prove at least half right. Although the Maryland General Assembly just two years ago passed legislation raising the statewide minimum wage to $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2025, it’s clear that the subject will need to be revisited. Inflation rose to 6.8%, the highest level in the United States in 39 years as of November. The resurgent U.S. economy coupled with supply chain woes have helped create a supply and demand imbalance that continues to push prices higher. Under current Maryland law, the minimum wage will rise to $12.50 on Jan. 1 (for employers with 14 or fewer workers it will be 30 cents cheaper), moving to...
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