Florida voters choose to increase minimum wage to $15; here’s how that may impact local businesses

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ORLANDO, Fla. — The presidential race was the biggest issue on the ballot, but Florida voters were also faced with making a decision on six proposed amendments to the state’s constitution.

One of the most controversial of the six was amendment two: whether to give minimum wage workers a boost in pay.

Florida voters decided to raise minimum wage to $15 an hour.

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The amendment needed at least 60% voter approval to pass.

The new increase will take place over the next six years.

Minimum wage will go up to $10 an hour starting next year, followed by a dollar increase each year until it reaches $15, which would be in 2026.

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Any future minimum wage increases will revert to being adjusted annually for inflation.

Each increase will take place on Sept. 30.

The amendment has been a longtime push by attorney John Morgan, who said Wednesday he feels like this is a victory for Florida.

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“What we did yesterday was immediately improve the lives of 2.5 million households,” Morgan said.

But local small business owners like Evan Dimov said they’re worried.

“It’s not that I don’t want to increase anybody’s pay, I’m all for it. It’s just, can I afford? And where’s the money’s coming from?” Dimov said.

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There were five other amendments on the ballots. Floridians passed all but two of them.

Amendment one, a citizenship requirement to vote in elections was approved.

It is already a requirement, but it the amendment changed the wording in the state’s constitution to be more direct.

Amendments five and six also passed.

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Amendment five helps homeowners hold onto property tax money a little longer. Amendment six gives a property tax discount to spouses of certain deceased veterans.

Meanwhile, amendments three and four didn’t reach the required 60% threshold to pass.

Amendment three would have made Florida an open primary state. Amendment four would have required future amendments to be passed twice.

Click here to see the results.