Organizers seeking to preserve collective bargaining rights for Salisbury city employees say they have submitted thousands of petition signatures to the city, marking the next step in an effort that could eventually put the issue before voters.

Maryland’s minimum wage is $15 an hour, but business owners on the Lower Shore are already watching a new round of proposals in Annapolis that could raise the statewide pay floor again, including a plan that would eventually push it to $25 an hour.

As revelers welcome the New Year, businesses across Maryland and Delaware are navigating the implications of an adjusted payroll due to a minimum wage increase taking effect today in both states. 

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore pushed lawmakers on Monday to increase the minimum wage to $15 this year — instead of waiting until 2025 — and allow annual increases that are tied to the cost of living.