SD council affirms wage increase

San Diego City Council members approved a series of increases in the city’s minimum wage for a required second time on Monday, starting the clock on a likely mayoral veto and possible referendum drive against the controversial legislation.

The council, which initially approved the wage hikes on July 21, again voted 6-3 along party lines — Democrats in favor and Republicans against — to raise San Diego’s mininum wage to $11.50 an hour within the next three years.

California’s minimum wage rose from $8 an hour to $9 on July 1 and is scheduled to become $10 in January 2016. The legislation increases San Diego’s minimum wage to $9.75 in January 2015, $10.50 in January 2016 and $11.50 in January 2017. Further increases tied to the local Consumer Price Index would begin in January 2019.

San Diego joins several other cities across the nation, including San Jose and Seattle, trying to fight poverty by establishing local minimum wages. San Diego is the largest city in the country to make such a move.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a Republican, has 10 business days to veto the legislation. Faulconer announced Monday after the council’s vote that he intends to veto the wage hike, but his veto is expected to be inconsequential because the council can override it with the same six-vote majority that has already approved the wage hikes twice this month.

Leaders of the business community say they’re considering a referendum. If they gather the necessary 34,000 signatures in 30 days, implementation of the wage hike would be delayed until a public vote could be held, most likely in June 2016.

Supporters of raising the minimum wage say it will help local business by boosting the buying power of many thousands of low-wage workers.

Opponents say it will force small businesses to increase prices, lay off workers and possibly shut down or leave San Diego.