Lexington cannot set a local minimum wage above Kentucky's $7.25 floor. KRS §337.275 and the 2016 Kentucky Supreme Court decision Holland v. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government struck Louisville's $9 ordinance, foreclosing similar Lexington action.
KRS §337.275 establishes Kentucky's minimum wage at the federal $7.25 hourly rate and, as interpreted by the Kentucky Supreme Court, preempts any local government from enacting a higher private-sector minimum. In Holland v. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (2016), the court invalidated Louisville Metro's $9 minimum wage ordinance, holding home-rule cities lack authority to exceed the state floor. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government is bound by Holland; the only carve-outs are LFUCG's own employees and contractors under the Living Wage Ordinance.
Any LFUCG ordinance attempting to set a private-sector minimum wage above $7.25 would be void and unenforceable under Holland precedent.
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