Residents Say Minimum Wage Increase Is A Complicated Issue

(CHAMPAIGN)---The first day of July brought some big changes for thousands of Illinois workers. The state's minimum wage increased Sunday by one dollar, from $6.50 to $7.50 cents an hour. For the most part, the $1.00 increase is being received well among employees. They say are happy to see that extra George Washington in their pocket, and it may even motivate others to get into the work force. As for management, they say this change will directly affect them. On one hand they'll have better paid employees, but on the other they'll have decreased profits. "The way our cost structures are we can't just absorb that and have it not affect our overall profits." Says McAlister's Deli owner Jeff Eberle "Unfortunately it has to filter down to the consumer." Others like hardware store employee Jon Wallace says he can't complain about the new rates. "It's just a dollar extra an hour you know." Says Wallace "It really helps out in the paycheck and it's just really beneficial for us." Either way both employees and management look at the increase as a positive, but know inflation is just another buck away. "I think it's going to help a little bit but everything is going to go up with it I think." Says deli employee Delaynie Lancaster. Illinois' minimum wage will increase $0.25 for the next three years until it reaches $8.25 in the year 2010. This year's minimum of $7.50 is a full $2.35 above the national level of $5.15/Hr.