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The sa国际传媒官网网页入口 City Council passed a whittled-down ordinance Monday night that raises the city's minimum wage from $12 to $15 over three years with future annual adjustments tied to inflation.

The amended bill also cut tipped workers' percentage of the minimum from 60% to 50% and gave city workers, making less than $80,000 a year, the same percentage wage increase as the minimum in annual adjustments.

Councilors voted 5-4 on the ordinance, which will raise the minimum hourly wage to $13 in 2027 and an additional dollar every year until reaching $15 in 2029. Annual adjustments tied to inflation would begin in 2030.

Councilors Dan Champine, Brook Bassan, Dan Lewis and Ren茅e Grout voted against the measure.

Council President Klarissa Pe帽a, who sponsored the majority of amendments, was the lone "yea" vote outside the bill's sponsors.

In a statement Tuesday, Pe帽a congratulated the bill sponsors and said, "My grandfather taught me that standing up for workers is one of the most important things we can do, and I have done it my entire adult life."

The original bill, sponsored by Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaqu铆n Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles, would have raised the minimum wage to $15 in 2027 and in 2028 began an annual living adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index but also Fair Market Rent 鈥� measured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 鈥� for a two-bedroom home in sa国际传媒官网网页入口.

In statements, the sponsors applauded the passage.

Fiebelkorn said "every worker in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 deserves to be paid enough to live here, and tonight the Council took a meaningful step toward making that a reality. I鈥檓 proud we got it across the finish line because this is about dignity, and our workers have earned it.鈥�

Rogers said, 鈥淲hile the original bill was amended, I am still so proud that Council supported a policy that puts working people first.鈥�

During Monday's meeting, Baca said there鈥檚 always a reason not to change things but that the only thing he had seen change recently was the cost of gas and other crucial commodities.

Four amendments to the ordinance saw city workers wrapped into annual increases, spread minimum wage raises across three years, removed FMR from consideration in annual adjustments and reduced the percentage of the minimum paid to tipped workers.

After the amendments passed and before the final vote, Lewis said, "The fact is this will have a negative effect on job creation in the city; this will have a negative effect on our economy."

Champine and Grout spoke in opposition and cast minimum wage jobs as necessary 鈥� a place for someone to begin before they build their talents and move onto a career path.

A spokesperson for Mayor Tim Keller's Office said Keller planned to sign the ordinance into law but that "we always cross check all amendments first and will do so once we receive the final legislation from council."

In a statement, Keller said the City Council 鈥渢ook a sensible step to help working families keep up with the rising cost of living, but they missed a major opportunity to fix the indexing formula to more accurately reflect inflation."

"Burque帽os are paying more for housing, groceries, and everyday basics, and increasing the minimum wage is how we help with that reality,鈥� Keller said.

A 'starter job' and making ends meet

During a robust 2-hour public comment session, those opposing the bill asked councilors to take their time and spoke of the ordinance leading to layoffs and businesses shutting down. Supporters expressed a struggle to afford basic supplies amid rising costs of rent and other goods and services.

One woman said the ordinance seemed 鈥渋nflationary,鈥� saying costs would be passed on to consumers, including minimum-wage workers. She added, 鈥淭hese entry-level jobs are fine, they are not designed to support a family.鈥�

A man striking a similar tone said minimum wage shouldn't be a career or a living wage, but a 鈥渟tarter job.鈥� He said the ordinance would raise the standards of entry-level jobs, affecting availability for those living on the streets and others getting on their feet.

A small business owner said the ordinance 鈥渄eserves serious discussion鈥� and asked councilors to study how it will affect businesses and workers before implementing.

A supporter scrolled a Zillow map showing dozens of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 rentals on a $15 an hour budget. On a $12 an hour budget, it appeared the closest available rental was in Portales.

A woman in a sling, who said she injured herself hiking, pointed out how a misstep can undo a low-income worker, with missed shifts leading to missed rent. She said, 鈥淥ne accident means falling into a hole you can't climb out of.鈥�

The owner of Taqueria Mexico, in a statement read aloud, supported the ordinance and said when workers struggle to cover basic needs, they also suffer stress, which can lead to less productivity and low morale. Another employer said she was paying $15 already but was concerned about tying annual adjustments to housing costs. She asked for something more staggered and easier to sustain, adding, 鈥淲e can't have these increases be unknown; we have to plan.鈥�