A $50,000 study could shape how much workers earn in Tompkins County, according to the Ithaca Times.
County leaders hired Cornell researchers to examine raising the local minimum wage above New York’s $16 rate. The effort includes public forums bringing together workers, businesses, and service providers to weigh impacts.
Officials say rising living costs, especially housing, are driving the debate. Nearly half of local workers earn below a living wage, estimates show. Findings are expected this summer, with lawmakers deciding later this year whether to pursue a higher local wage.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.