The Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce and local business owners are saying no to Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposed $15 an hour minimum wage.

Chamber members and representatives from the New York Farm Bureau gathered at the Radisson Hotel in Utica to voice their opposition to the wage increase.

Jacob Schieferstine of the New York Farm Bureau owns a 200 cow dairy farm.

Schieferstine says the the $15 minimum would have a big impact on his business.  He says at $15 an hour, his farm would need an additional $100,000 to make payroll and in his business, there just isn't an extra $100,000 to go around.

Schieferstine says that means they'll have to cut employees or worst case scenario, they may be forced to close.

Sam Tornatore is the owner of Babe's Macaroni Grill and Bar in Utica.

He says technology is already replacing jobs in the restaurant industry, with chain restaurants using hand held devices to decrease the number of servers they hire.

The Chamber is urging residents to contact their state representatives to let them know they oppose the minimum wage increase.

The Rome Chamber of Commerce is also opposing the $15 an hour minimum wage.

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