Opponents of Kansas City’s minimum wage increase submit signatures for referendum

Opponents of a minimum wage increase in Kansas City approved by the City Council submitted more than 6,000 signatures Friday to try to overturn the council action.

The signatures, which were turned in to the city clerk’s office, still must be verified by Kansas City election authorities. Backers of the referendum effort need 3,400 valid signatures to try to overturn the council-approved ordinance that mandated a $13-per-hour minimum wage by 2020.

If the referendum petitions are sufficient, it could compel the council to repeal the $13-per-hour measure or force a public vote on the issue.

“We continue to look at all different options to make sure that nothing is rushed through,” said David Jackson, spokesman for a business group calling itself Missourians for Fair Wages.

The council’s measure may be moot soon. The Missouri General Assembly may act in mid-September on a bill that would prohibit cities from enacting their own minimum wage above the state-approved level of $7.65 per hour.

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Opponents of Kansas City’s minimum wage increase submit signatures for referendum."