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Missouri's minimum wage increase to $15 per hour will affect the City of Liberty's budget for next year, including adding more than $80,000 to the Parks & Recreation Department's expenses.

Thomas Tempest has worked as a lifeguard for the department for five years. The part-time job helps him pay bills as a college student.

I spend a lot of time counting cents and counting dollars. It adds up real fast, Tempest said. I have lots of expenses, like groceries, tuition, housing.

He feels like hes drowning in bills, but knows that next year a higher minimum wage will finally help him catch his breath.

Even a couple bucks increase, even a dollar increase, thatll stack up to $40 or $50 bucks, Tempest said.

That extra money will make a difference in his po

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