Mayor Steve Fulop has ordered that all full-time municipal workers will be paid $15 an hour at least. Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal

JERSEY CITY -- Mayor Steve Fulop today issued an executive order that raises the minimum wage of roughly 500 city workers to $15 an hour, three months after he aligned himself with a movement to hike the state's minimum wage to that amount.

The action, which affects largely low-wage workers like 911 dispatchers and crossing guards, is part of the city's "commitment" to working families, Fulop said in a statement today.

"Not only is this the right thing for Jersey City, but it's my hope that our actions today will help move Trenton towards providing all New Jerseyans a living wage," he said.

Fulop's move comes as Democratic lawmakers seek to raise the New Jersey's minimum wage to $15 an hour, a plan that, if blocked by Gov. Chris Christie, may go before voters.

The change will take effect today. Council President Rolando Lavarro, a Fulop ally, applauded the move.

"Like earned sick days and wage theft before, this action is another example of Jersey City protecting our working families, recognizing the hard work and dignity of Jersey City workers," Lavarro said in a statement.

The cost for hiking the workers' wages is roughly $1 million annually, according to city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill, who noted that the plan is a part of this year's proposed city budget, which comes with no tax hike. The plan will affect full-and part-time workers but not summer interns under 18 years old, who will continue to earn $9 an hour.

Matt Rooney, a lawyer and conservative blogger who founded SaveJersey.com, told The Jersey Journal that Jersey City wouldn't be able to afford to offer a higher minimum wage if it weren't for state taxpayers. Rooney expressed anger that Jersey City receives a total of $490 million in state aid -- that includes the aid given to its public school district -- and yet continues to approve long-term tax breaks for developers.



"It has to be one of America's wealthiest subsidized cities in 2016 relative to its size and the amount of aid," Rooney said, adding that the city needs to "tighten its belt and pull its own weight."

In November, Fulop and members of the City Council joined labor activists at City Hall to show support for hiking the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour. The rally coincided with protests in dozens of U.S. cities by thousands of fast-food workers who demanded a "living wage."

A $15 minimum wage is nearly double the state's minimum, $8.38. New Jersey voters in 2013 approved a constitutional amendment that hiked the state's minimum wage and tied future increases to the inflation rate. There is no scheduled increase for this year.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.