FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 6, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152
Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054

City Council to Consider Repealing Tacoma Municipal Code Title 18.20 on Minimum Wage

-- State’s Minimum Wage Will be Greater Than Tacoma’s Effective January 1, 2020 -- 

On Dec. 10, 2019, the Tacoma City Council will consider Ordinance 28646 to repeal Tacoma Municipal Code, Chapter 18.20 on Minimum Wage effective January 1, 2020 given that, on this date, the State of Washington's established minimum wage will be greater than the City's. 

In 2015, before the State had established its own employment standards laws, the Council adopted Tacoma Municipal Code 18.20 on Minimum Wage which went into effect on February 1, 2016. 

In 2016, with voter approval of Initiative 1433 in Washington state, minimum wage changed statewide with an increase of the State's minimum wage that went into effect on January 1, 2018. 

YEAR               CITY’S MW RATE        STATE’S MW RATE     DIFFERENCE 
2016                $10.35                          $9.47                           .88
2017                $11.15                          $11.00                         .15
2018                $12.00                          $11.50                         .50
2019                $12.35                        $12.00                         .35
2020                $12.54                          $13.50                         .96

A final reading of Ordinance 28646 is projected to take place on December 17, 2019. If the ordinance is adopted, the City will rely solely on State laws and enforcement moving forward.   

More information about the State of Washington's employment standards is available here.

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