Montgomery County raises minimum wage for county workers

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Montgomery County is raising its minimum wage for county employees to $20.52 an hour, nearly triple Pennsylvania's statewide minimum of $7.25.

The new wage applies to a wide range of county employees, including park rangers, phone operators, and those working in the criminal justice system.

County Commissioner Neil Makhija said the state's minimum wage has long failed to keep pace with economic realities.

"Honestly, it's still not enough, because if you took the minimum wage when it was passed decades ago and brought it up to inflation, it would be at least $18," Makhija said. "And if you raise it for productivity, it would be well above $20."

With this move, Montgomery County now offers the highest minimum wage of any local government in Pennsylvania.