Monticello business owner says wage increases could be passed onto customers

MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) — Come January 1, businesses in the area will have to increase the minimum wage to $12 an hour, which is apart of a statewide five-step plan to increase minimum wage to $15 by 2025.  

With supply chain issues and shipping delays, the costs to run small businesses have increased dramatically. This will be another cost they have to eat, which could end up on the customers.

“This is just one more thing unfortunately our small businesses are going to face,” said Shelly Crawford-Stock, executive director of Monticello’s Chamber of Commerce.  

But is it going to be helpful? Brandon Taylor, the new owner of 3 Raven’s restaurant in Monticello, is not sure.

“The kitchen staff is where it’s really hard to maintain retention, because they rely on that hourly rate,” Taylor said.

Crawford-Stock says local businesses are already having a hard time hiring employees as it is…

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