The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced Monday it is launching a $15,000 ad campaign opposing the city of Madison's proposal to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.75 an hour.
The campaign includes radio ads, and communication with GMCC members, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and city alders.
\We believe it hurts small business owners who are forced to cut back on staff or increase prices to keep up with additional costs and believe it encourages urban sprawl, driving existing and new businesses to cities with lower minimum wages,"" the GMCC said in a press release.
Ald. Austin King, District 8, said although the campaign will cost ""a lot of money,"" he is not worried it will affect the campaign in City Council for higher workers' wages.
""I don't think wasting their members' money on a huge ad buy for an issue like this is going to be with their primary money,"" he said.
King also said the GMCC fails to realize the proposal will not require businesses to implement the $7.75 wage until 2008, adding many members of Madison's small business community are in favor of a minimum wage hike.
The City Council is set to debate and vote on the minimum wage proposal next Tuesday. The council was supposed to debate the ordinance last week, but delayed it after Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed a bill that would have prevented Madison and other local state governments from setting minimum wages higher than that of the state.
-Maureen Backman
