Most DeKalb businesses support the recent minimum wage increase but there are mixed feelings over the second increase that goes into effect next year.

The first increase in nine years took effect April 1 raising the minimum wage from $3.35 to $3.80. This is part of a two-year plan that will raise the minimum wage to $4.25 on April 1, 1991.

Mark Cerny, owner of Record Revolution, 817 W. Lincoln Hwy., said $4.25 is a bit high and should have been spread out more. “Four dollars would have been a better jump,” he said.

Cerny said his employees deserve more money and the increase would only amount to about $5 more per person each week.

“Hopefully it has given people some extra money to buy with,” said Bud Benson, owner of Kampus Korner, 901 Lucinda Ave. Benson said the increase was “too long in coming” and will put more money into the economy.

Kathy Zuniga, owner of Sun Rays Tanning, 901 Lucinda Ave., said $4.25 “is quite a jump for part-timers.”

But not all employees start out at the standard minimum wage. Rod Link, manager of Hardee’s, 1101 W. Lincoln Hwy., said employees are hired at $4.15. Link said the increase won’t “affect us since ours is so close to it anyway.”

e said the only bad side is employees might not receive raises as soon as they would if the increase were not in effect.

Link said Hardee’s started paying $4.15 an hour to attract applicants to work the night shift, but later changed it to apply to all new employees.

Ken Burkett, manager at Wal-Mart, 2500 Sycamore Rd., said Wal-Mart hires at $4.50 and would not be affected by the increase.

He said Wal-Mart hires at a high rate “so we can get a consistent work force.” Burkett said he has noticed people staying with the business longer.

DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow said he supports the wage increase. Sparrow said it is unfair people were “forced to have to work at that level. The business community has to understand people have to live too.”