Dietz: Minimum wage bill mixed blessing

Posted on February 18, 2019
Illinois State University President Larry Dietz shared his thoughts on the $15 minimum wage bill which is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois State University President Larry Dietz is weighing in on the $15 minimum wage bill.

The bill, SB 1, raises the minimum wage gradually over the next six years until it hits $15 an hour in 2025.  Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign the bill possibly sometime this week.

Dietz explained to WJBC’s Scott Miller the impact of a pay raise on ISU.

“The financial impact over the phase in during the first year we anticipate it being around $600,000,” said Dietz. “When the bill is fully implemented it will be around $7.5 million.”

Dietz said this bill is ultimately a mixed blessing.

“The positive part is the impact on students as we have somewhere around 5,000 student workers on campus and most work not because it’s a hobby, they do because they need the money,” Dietz said. “Students will have more money to pay bills and for school, but the downside to that is those bills will probably go up.”

Dietz added it’s too early to predict but a pay hike could reduce the number of student jobs on campus.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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