Beshear's order also raises the pay of tipped state employees — mostly waiters and waitresses at state parks — from $2.19 an hour to $4.90.
"The current minimum wage in this country of $7.25 a hour — no matter what measure you use — is simply not enough to support a family," Beshear said at a news conferences in Lexington and Louisville. "So, we need to change that reality."
The governor said his action will cost state government about $1.6 million per year. The order applies only to executive branch employees — not employees of the legislative or judicial branches, or employees of state universities.
