Imperial Valley stores adjust to new CA minimum wage increase

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Businesses in the Imperial Valley have to find new and creative ways to keep their doors open as the California minimum wage increases once again.

California's minimum wage increased to $15.50 an hour starting January 1.

That’s a $1.50 increase for businesses with fewer than 25 employees.

Businesses with more than 25 employees will see a 50-cent increase in their employees' bottom line.

Local businesses in the Imperial Valley say the wage increase is just a sign of the times.

“With the minimum wage pay increase, It’s nice but you know everything else around us is going up in price," said Dustin Driscoll, owner of Driscoll's Sports. "Some people may think it’s great but at the same time, the cost of living is going up, so it’s basically we’re just matching that amount.”

Employees are happy to see their salaries go up but know, like everything else, the price for everything continues to go up.

“It’s gonna help especially with my college bills," said Victor Benitez, a Driscoll's employee. "We got the new semester coming around. So just being able to pay off the tuition it’s going to be a big help.”

“Now that they’re gonna give us more money to compete with everything that’s going on right now," Ulises Gonzalez, another employee at Driscoll's. "Everything’s going up so I’m glad it did go up.”

One customer said that the new pay increase shouldn’t deter people from continuing to support local businesses.

“Sometimes prices increase are reflected in the value of the merchandise," said Marlowe Fraser. "I think most of the public would understand that. If prices have to go up a little bit to cover up that as an employer, so be it.”

Driscoll is thankful for the long-standing support of this community to local businesses, just like his own.