Sacramento City Voters Could See $15 An Hour Minimum Wage Ballot Measure

Sacramento voters could decide next November whether to raise the city's minimum wage to $15 per hour. Supporters submitted their proposed ballot measure to the city clerk's office this week.

The Sacramento City Council approved a series of minimum wage increases two months ago -- to $12.50 an hour by 2020. But the group "Organize Sacramento" says that's not enough. It wants to ask voters to raise the city's minimum wage to $15 an hour. The ordinance and ballot measure would both link future increases to inflation.

The ballot proposal also includes one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked; and unlike the city council ordinance, does not set a lower minimum wage for workers who also earn tips.

The advocacy group "Region Business" has already come out in opposition to the initiative, saying it would undo the hard-fought compromise reached by labor and business groups.

Supporters will need to gather more than 21,000 valid signatures from people registered to vote within city limits.

Backers of a $15 per hour minimum wage are also pushing a statewide voter initiative for the November 2016 ballot.