King County business urges change to minimum wage bill to save local economy

(The Center Square) – Businesses in unincorporated parts of King County are bracing for a potential minimum wage increase, but some are urging the county council to adjust the legislation to a model that could save the local economy.

Next month, the King County Council will vote on a proposed bill that would increase the hourly minimum wage in unincorporated King County to $20.29. That would tie the cities of Tukwila and Renton for the highest minimum wage in the nation.

The bill was adjusted so that small businesses with five or fewer employees and an annual gross revenue of less than $2 million would have an hourly minimum wage rate of $3 less ($17.29). The reduction would decrease annually by 50 cents until no reduction remains. However, some businesses say that won’t change the impacts to the area.

Cascadia Pizza is one of the businesses that could be impacted by this bill. Thomas Reinhard, one of three co-owners of the pizza restaurant, told The Center Square that locations outside of Maple Valley ...