Tucson Increases Minimum Wage To $15 For City Workers

TUCSON, AZ — Half of the city of Tucson's workforce will get a financial boost after the city approved a minimum wage increase to $15 an hour.

The Tucson City Council voted to approve the measure Wednesday. The vote was unanimous.

“It’s not only the right thing to do, but it’s the smart thing to do from a managerial perspective as we address ongoing retention concerns throughout the organization,” Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said during the vote. “It’s the right thing to do for our workers and their families to make sure that they have living wages, and it is the right thing to do for our city and economy.”

Raising the minimum wage was one of the main issues Romero campaigned on when she ran for mayor.

According to the city, approximately 170 workers making less than $15 an hour will receive a boost in pay and 2,000 workers who already make close to that amount will get some kind of increase in order to avoid compression issues.

Arizona's minimum wage is $12.15 per hour statewide. Congress is currently in the middle of a fierce debate to raise the federal $15 minimum wage by 2025.

Romero said the increase will be covered by money in Tucson's general and special funds.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.