Some State Workers Will Get Minimum Wage Raise July 1st

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed an executive order Monday that will increase the salaries of some 800 state workers beginning July 1st by increasing the minimum wage from $7.25/hour to $10.10/hour.

Beshear's order will also increase the pay of state tipped employees, mostly waiters and waitresses at state parks, from $2.19/hour to $4.90/hour.

The governor's action will cost state government about $1.6 million a year. For now,  executive branch employees will see the pay raise. A similar bill to raise the pay of legislative branch employees is being considered according to House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D).