Proponents of a measure that would boost the minimum wage in Albuquerque will have to convince a District Court judge to put it on November's ballot after the New Mexico Supreme Court declined to take the case.
The initiate's backers asked a District Court judge on Friday morning to order Albuquerque's city clerk to place the proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot because the City Council would not.
The Albuquerque Journal reports backers and lawyers for Albuquerque quickly agreed to ask the Supreme Court to step in because whoever loses is certain to appeal. But late Friday afternoon the high court declined.
The court battle came after supporters gathered petition signatures in favor of the proposal to boost the wage from $7.50 to $8.50 an hour for most employees.
