By Emarie Butler, Gaylord News

A restaurant owner in Loco says Oklahoma’s current minimum wage is “unfeasible,” but argued that doubling it in short intervals would raise major obstacles for small businesses. 

On June 16, Oklahoma voters will decide on State Question 832, a proposal to gradually increase the state's minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour by 2029.

The measure would phase in a wage increase of $1.50 a year over several years and has become a statewide debate among workers, business owners and policymakers. Supporters say it is needed to address the rising cost of living, while opponents say it could dismantle pricing, hiring and small businesses across Oklahoma. 

Support comes from groups such as the Yes on 832 campaign, which argues that increasing wages would help workers keep up with inflation. The Oklahoma Democratic Party also supports raising wages as part of an economic platform focused on improving pay for working families. 

House District 89 Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, Democrat, said he pushed for the measure to be on the ballot after listening to the concerns of Oklahomans. 

“I meet parents who are working long hours, sometimes multiple jobs, and still struggling to keep up with rising costs,” Alonso-Sandoval said. “They are doing everything we ask of them, working hard, raising families, contributing to their communities, and yet many feel like they are falling behind.”

Alonso-Sandoval said voters deserve to have a direct voice on issues that affect working people, which motivated him to push for the ballot measure. 

“When an issue impacts whether families can afford rent, groceries, childcare, and healthcare, I believe there is value in letting the people decide for themselves,” he said. 

Business owner and House District 50 Rep. Stacy Jo Adams, Republican, said the proposal “applies a one-size-fits-all solution to a state with very different economic realities. What may seem manageable in Oklahoma City or Tulsa could have a very different impact in rural communities where businesses operate on much smaller margins.”

Adams also said the proposal has come at a time when artificial intelligence is on the rise. She warned that if the government raises labor costs, businesses may look for alternative ways to do jobs that would otherwise belong to Oklahomans.

“AI is already replacing jobs by automating customer service, administrative tasks, scheduling, quoting, data entry and many other routine functions,” Adams said. “If this proposal passes and labor costs are artificially pushed higher with automatic increases built in, that transition will only accelerate.”

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from small business owners, particularly in rural areas where labor costs are a major part of operating budgets.  Some owners say the change could force difficult adjustments in pricing and staffing, while others believe the impact may be more manageable. 

Joyle Hurst, owner of Pinto Grill in Loco, says he supports wage increases but believes the proposed jump is too much, too quickly. He described the current minimum wage as unfeasible but also argued that doubling it in short stages still presents major challenges for small businesses. 

“I don’t mind raising it,” Hurst said. “But going straight to $15 by 2029, I think that’s too much at once. If you start there, everything has to go up; prices, payroll, everything.” 

However,  Brad Ritter, who owns Mud Creek BBQ in Ringling, says payroll increases would likely be absorbed through standard budgeting and minimal price adjustments. He said higher wages could help reduce turnover, which is often a major challenge for local restaurants. 

“It won’t be as dramatic as people think,” Ritter said. “If payroll goes up, you adjust. It might only be a small change in prices for customers.”

People on both sides of the debate say they share the same goal: strengthening opportunity.  

 “I believe Oklahoma’s economy is strongest when we create opportunity, support small businesses, encourage workforce development and allow wages to respond naturally to market demand,” Adams said. 

Alonso-Sandoval says he hopes people will learn more about the issue because, regardless of whether they support or oppose raising the minimum wage, their voices matters.

“At the end of the day, I believe our state is strongest when we listen to one another, respect different perspectives and work toward solutions that help working families, small businesses and communities thrive together,” said Alonso-Sandoval. 

Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. More stories by Gaylord News can be found at GaylordNews.net