Minimum wage hike worries Central Oregon businesses

Businesses across Central Oregon are bracing for the impact of the newly signed minimum wage bill.

Business owners said Thursday the minimum wage increase poses a double-whammy for them, as they also have to provide sick leave for their employees. Now they’re adjusting their books to keep their businesses running, as the first wage increase is only four months away.

“We just do everything we can to keep the business viable that is our goal,” said Polar Bear Gas & Wash owner David Standerwick

Standerwick has owned his gas station and car wash for more than 10 years. He said state law requires his workers to pump gas for customers, and he doesn’t have an option to cut costs.

He’s adjusted before, but every time, he has to pass the cost on to his customers.

“We’ll have to take a look at our entire wage structure,” Standerwick said.

For Jenny Hunter, who works at a restaurant and is making $9.25 an hour, it’s good news, as she is saving for college.

But it’s the same worry for the owners at the Stop N Go gas station in Bend, which sees a high volume of customers throughout the day.

“We’re feeling pretty let down by this,” Kizer Couch said. “We feel it not only hurt us as business owner, but our employees — particularly for us guys who have minimum-wage employees, it hurts our ability to hire more people.”

The first increase will happen in July, when the current $9.25 hourly rate will go by 50 cents in Portland and smaller cities such as Bend and 25 cents in rural communities.