Change to spare (The Hawks Herald) By OLIVIA LYONS BRISTOL, R.I. (Feb.

7, 2013) __ The state of Rhode Island increased its minimum wage from $7.40 an hour to $7.75 an hour, which exceeds the federal minimum wage by 50 cents. The increase, which took effect Jan. 1, is the rst minimum wage increase that Rhode Island has seen in ve years. I think it was positive to increase the rate to $7.75 because we are now closer to the average minimum wage for the New England states, said Tracy DaCosta, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Retention at Roger Williams University. There are approximately 1,200 work study students and 325 payroll students working at RWU this year, and this minimum wage increase impacts each of those working students. Students will notice the extra 35 cents added to their paychecks as of Jan. 1. The increase in minimum wage really helps me nancially, said Aimee Kaufman, a junior English major. It helps me pay for basic things like groceries and gas. The extra money does go a long way. Although the minimum wage rate has just increased, there is a push in Rhode Island to raise the minimum wage even further, to $8.25 an hour. Although 29 states pay workers $7.25 an hour, which is the federal minimum wage, there is an urgency for Rhode Island to match neighboring states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont, all of which have minimum wage rates that exceed $7.75 an hour. Those in favor of raising the rate once again hope that it will stimulate the economy. Many people oppose this proposal, however, and argue that the increase will hurt small business owners and cause more layoffs. It is important to evaluate the impact it would have on employers in the state before raising it any higher, DaCosta said.