KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City’s minimum wage would rise to $13 an hour over eight years under a draft ordinance that has been passed out of a committee of councilmembers.  The councilmembers made no recommendations Thursday on whether the ordinance should be approved when they consider it again July 16th.

The measure calls for incremental hikes to the current $7.65 an hour minimum wage. Workers would receive their first raise August 24th, when businesses with more than 15 employees and $500,000 in annual income would be required to begin paying at least $8.50 an hour.

Workers younger than 18 are among those who would be exempted from the higher wage.

Backers say a wage hike is needed to help workers pay their bills. Opponents say it would cripple businesses and question its legality.