Higher minimum wage now in effect in Md., DC; Va. unchanged
July 1, last week, brought a host of new laws to Maryland, Virginia and DC. Hereês rundown and reiteration of some important ones that affect dealers, including minimum wage.
In Maryland:
« The new minimum wage is $8.25, up from $8.00. The rate will increase to $8.75 in July 2016, to $9.25 in July, 2017 and $10.10 in July 2018. Although former Gov. Martin OêMalley had pushed for increases beyond 2018, none were enacted. Exempt from minimum wage: employees younger than 16 who work less than 20 hours a week; those 62 or older who work less than 25 hours a week; salaried employees; and salespeople.
« Tolls have been lowered on Maryland roads and bridges. For example: The $6.00 fee to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge has dropped to $4.00. The Intercounty Connector toll schedule has also decreased.
« The gas tax will increase from 2 to 3 percent, an increase of about 2 cents per gallon.
« The rain tax on stormwater runoff administered by the state has been repealed, but remains pretty much in tact with the affected localities. An issue of great interest to dealers and a centerpiece of Gov. Larry Hoganês election campaign, the law required the stateês 10 largest localities to charge individuals and businesses a stormwater remediation fee to pay for federally mandated cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay. Because the fee was based on the size of the ownerês property, businesses with a large amount of land, like dealerships, would have owed a lot of money. Federal law still requires that money be spent on cleanup, but Maryland counties and Baltimore City may raise the funds in any way they choose.
In Virginia:
« Virginia employers may not require employees or job applicants to disclose their user names and passwords for social media sites. Correspondingly, workplace supervisors cannot compel workers to friend them on Facebook.
« Virginiaês minimum wage remains the same as the federal minimum, $7.25/hour!
« As the WANADA Bulletin reported last month, Virginia title tax on vehicle sales goes from 4.05% to 4.10% July 1, and will rise again July 1, 2016.
In DC:
« Minimum wage in DC rose to $10.50 on July 1 — not just the highest in the region, but one of the highest in the nation. The rate will increase to $11.50 in July, 2016. Activists are pushing to raise it to $15.00, calling for a ballot initiative (Although, there are no dealerships in DC, it remains to be seen whether the cityês higher minimum wage will make it harder for employers to compete for lower level employees.)
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