The Boulder County Commissioners took final action on Thursday, approving an ordinance that will raise the minimum wage by 15% on Jan. 1. The new minimum wage will be $15.69 in unincorporated Boulder County.
According to the commissioners’ police staff team, the conversation around minimum wage began in 2019 at the county level after the passing of HB19-1210 which allows local governments to adopt a local minimum wage. However, the conversation was put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic switched the county’s focus.
Denver was the first municipality to adopt a new minimum wage scale. In 2020, Denver increased its minimum wage to $12.85, outpacing the state’s set minimum wage which was $12 per hour. Denver is expected to increase its minimum wage to $18.29 in 2024.
The county commissioners have heard testimony from groups during five virtual listening sessions, one in person townhall meeting and during public testimony during commissioner meetings on the topic. The biggest concern has been the unprecedented demand being placed on family resource centers. According to the commissioners’ staff, a family of four needs the equivalent to four full-time minimum wage jobs — at current wage levels — to meet their basic needs.
The commissioners also agreed to revise the pace at which it raises its wages in an effort to give municipalities across the county the opportunity to adopt similar minimum wage schedules. In January, unincorporated Boulder County businesses will need to raise their minimum wage offerings to $15.69, which is 15% higher than current minimum wage requirements. In 2025, the county has set the increase to 5.67%.
The county’s goal is to raise the minimum wage to $25 an hour by 2030 which will be done with 8.58% increases each year from 2026 to 2030.
Commissioner Marta Loachamin expressed concerns about implementing additional funding for small businesses to weather the transition. The other commissioners echoed that this was a priority, although not a topic considered in Thursday’s vote. The commissioners directed staff to bring back a plan that would outline the support the county could offer.
The ordinance with the amendment to revise the increase plan passed unanimously.
