PROVIDENCE — A divided City Council gave first approval last night to a living wage ordinance, which would require that any business or nonprofit agency benefiting from a new city tax break or from large city grants pay its full-time employees at least $10.19 an hour.

The council passed the ordinance on a vote of 8 to 6 with one member abstaining.

Business groups oppose it, while Mayor David N. Cicilline said yesterday that he has not decided whether to veto the bill, but feels it is being rushed through “in the dark of night.”

“One of the things that concerns me is the speed with which this is being addressed. The implications of the ordinance are far-reaching. This is not the kind of process the public deserves,” he said.

To enact it into law would require that it pass a second time. The council is set to change on Jan. 1. Council President John J. Lombardi said that every effort will be made to schedule a special meeting next week for the second vote.

If it passes then, that might lead to a third fight: whether the new council will be able to muster 10 votes to override a possible mayoral veto.

Council members Kevin Jackson, Ronald W. Allen, Luis Aponte, Miguel Luna, David Segal, John J. Lombardi, Joseph DeLuca, and Balbina Young voted for the ordinance.

Members Terrence M. Hassett, Carol A. Romano, Josephine DiRuzzo, Peter S. Mancini, John J. Igliozzi, and Patrick K. Butler voted against it. Rita M. Williams abstained.