Ballot proposal would raise Ohio minimum wage to $12 an hour

COLUMBUS (AP) — A ballot effort to boost Ohio’s minimum wage has cleared an initial hurdle.

Attorney General Mike DeWine certified a petition for the proposed constitutional amendment Friday, saying it had the necessary signatures and a “fair and truthful” summary.

The proposal seeks to increase the minimum wage for non-tipped workers to $10 an hour on Jan. 1, 2017. That amount would then increase in 50-cent increments each year until it reaches $12 an hour in 2021. It would then be adjusted annually for inflation.

Tipped employees would get $6 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2017, with other increases thereafter.

Current minimum wage is $8.10 an hour for nontipped workers, and $4.05 an hour for tipped employees.

The proposal heads next to the Ohio Ballot Board before backers can gather more signatures.