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Tompkins committee kicks off Cornell‑led minimum‑wage study, emphasizes inclusive engagement
Summary
Committee chair announced the start of a Cornell University‑supported study to assess the local impacts of a Tompkins County minimum wage distinct from the state floor; members urged broad outreach to downtown, rural and employer voices.
The Tompkins County Housing and Economic Development Committee on April 1 confirmed the county has begun a study with Cornell University researchers to examine the potential impacts of a locally set minimum wage.
Chair Greg said the study is intended to assess how a county minimum wage — separate from the New York State minimum — could affect workers and employers across the county and stressed that the research is not a living‑wage study. "We really want this to be an open and honest dialogue and discussion with all affected parties from our rural workers to our downtown workers to our nonprofits to our small and medium‑size businesses," he said.
Legislator Iris, who attended the initial convening, said the kickoff included seven legislators and multiple business representatives. She noted participants were grappling with baseline numbers, and that some audience members defaulted to thinking about the area’s living‑wage figure (which she cited as about $24.82 per hour) despite no number being set for the study. Committee members encouraged colleagues to attend future convenings and directed residents to the Tompkins County website for schedules and materials from the research team.
