The Boulder County Commissioners announced Friday that they plan to raise the minimum wage in the unincorporated parts of the county beginning Jan. 1.
Wages would increase by 15% and bring the new total to $15.70/hour.
Commissioners say residents frequently bring up the rising unaffordability of Boulder County, according to a news release from the county.
“To respond to the rising cost of living, the county continues to consult with local municipalities and neighboring counties to work towards consistency in the region and reinforce our community’s ability to attract and retain a locally qualified workforce, reduce competition across the region for workers, and contribute to the quality of life for many area workers. The county is aware of the many pressures on local workers and businesses alike and looks forward to learning more as economic conditions evolve and future plans are considered,” according to the release.
The Northwest Chamber Alliance believes the county is moving too quickly with its decision to increase the minimum wage. In a statement made on Wednesday, the alliance called the county’s efforts “insensitive and reckless” as it called for more community engagement to learn more about the impacts raising the minimum wage could have.
“Between a pandemic shutdown, hyper-inflationary cost increases, surging property taxes, workforce challenges and supply chain struggles, the businesses and non-profits that serve our communities and employ our residents have demonstrated remarkable flexibility and resiliency. However, many are still teetering on the brink of failure. To blithely add significant additional cost to their bottom-line expenses and inject imbalanced cross-jurisdictional competition, completely disregards the findings from studies in other communities of the further negative business and employee impacts from ill-considered minimum wage increases,” the alliance states.
The alliance also claims that it is sensitive to the rising costs of living. It states that the consortium of Boulder County Chambers of Commerce stands “ready to participate in a process that addresses the goals for a proposed minimum wage increase and other measures for reducing living expenses,”
The county will hold a public hearing on the topic on Nov. 2. Those who wish to speak can attend in person at the Commissioners’ Hearing Room located at 1325 Pearl St. in Boulder or attend online or by phone. Registration links will be available in the Commissioner’s Advance Agenda on Oct. 20.
The commissioners also invite the public to attend a town hall on Oct. 12 at the Left Hand Grange located at 195 Second Ave. in Niwot. The town hall will begin at 5:30 p.m.
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