Efforts continue to raise minimum wage to more than $10 in Las Cruces

Could Las Cruces see it’s minimum wage rise again?

As ABC-7 has reported, Las Cruces City Council has approved an ordinance earlier this summer raising the wage to $8.50 by 2016.

Las Cruces City Clerk Esther Martinez has validated the 2,257 signatures necessary to certify the “Cafe” (communidades en accion y de fe) proposed ordinance to improve wages to $10.10 by 2017.

The City Council votes on a resolution to approve the petition certification at its meeting on Aug. 4.

The Council will hear a first reading of the proposed ordinance Aug. 18. A special meeting will be held Sept. 5 to vote on the proposal.

If the Council votes yes, then the ordinance becomes law.

If it is voted down, then it goes to Las Cruces voters to decide in a special election Nov. 4.

This will be a separate municipally-run election coinciding with the general election.

The City of Las Cruces has not seen a minimum wage increase since 2009 when the phased-in statewide minimum wage rose to $7.50.