Lexington council votes to raise minimum wage to $10.10

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council is expected to take a final vote on whether to raise the minimum wage at a meeting Thursday evening.

The ordinance includes an exemption for agricultural workers.

Councilman Jake Gibbs, who represents the city’s 3rd District, said in a statement that the vote affirmed “that every Lexington citizen has the right to a living wage”. A year ago. Louisville increased the wage to $9 by 2017, but business leaders filed a suit claiming the city did not have the authority.

Members of Lexington’s business community were divided on the ordinance, though most owners who spoke Thursday opposed the measure.

The court’s decision will affect whether Lexington’s increase goes forward.

Lexington becomes the second city in Kentucky to raise its minimum wage above the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour. The Louisville minimum wage will increase to $9 an hour over the next three years.