Boulder County Commissioners Propose New Minimum Wage Plan

UPDATE: Boulder County commissioners have just announced a significant shift in their approach to minimum wage, proposing to align local wages with the city of Boulder. During a meeting on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the commissioners expressed strong support for a new wage schedule that would set the county’s minimum wage at $16.82 per hour starting January 1, 2026.

This proposed increase marks a notable change from the existing minimum wage of $16.57 per hour in unincorporated Boulder County. The new plan aims to connect future wage increases to the Consumer Price Index, potentially raising the minimum wage to $18.93 by 2030, assuming an annual CPI increase of 3%.

The urgency of this proposal arises from mounting pressure from both employees and business owners. During a public hearing last week, advocates argued that a higher minimum wage is essential for workers’ livelihood, enabling them to afford living in the communities where they work. However, small business owners and farmers have expressed concerns that increased labor costs could jeopardize their operations.

Commissioners Marta Loachamin and Claire Levy voted in favor of moving forward with drafting an ordinance to revise the current wage plan. In contrast, Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann cast a dissenting vote, advocating for the previous schedule that aimed for a minimum wage of $25 by 2030.

Loachamin emphasized the importance of establishing a minimum wage that provides security for workers. “It just does provide, in my mind, some security to workers to know if they make a commitment to be in Boulder County that they won’t be working for less than this amount,” she stated.

Stolzmann, highlighting the need for a stronger stance, remarked, “During the pandemic, people lined the streets with signs calling workers who earn minimum wage heroes. We have to stop letting down the people we call heroes of the community.”

The proposed changes come after a previous wage schedule approved in 2023, which included annual increases of approximately 8.6% until reaching the ambitious target of $25 per hour by 2030. Boulder’s current minimum wage is $15.57 with an annual increase of 8% until 2028, when it too will be tied to the CPI.

As the commissioners prepare to draft the new ordinance, no date has been set for its first reading. The outcome of this proposal could significantly impact thousands of workers in the unincorporated areas of Boulder County, including Gunbarrel, Hygiene, and Niwot.

This developing story highlights a critical moment for wage policy in Boulder County as officials weigh the needs of workers against the concerns of local businesses. Stay tuned for more updates as this situation evolves.