YES on Boulder Ballot Question 2C

YES: City of Boulder Ballot Question 2C - Council Pay 

Boulder Progressives supports Boulder Ballot Question 2C. Here’s why:

Measure 2C would set the compensation for future council members to 40% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and to 50% of Area Median Income for the mayor. This change would take effect in December of 2026 after the newly elected city council members are sworn into office.

City Council members currently make less than the minimum wage for the 20+ hours of work they do on a weekly basis to manage our city’s $515 million dollar budget, oversee crucial city services, make policy decisions that impact the entire community, and be accessible and responsive to community members.

Most people can't afford to run for office if the compensation is below minimum wage. We believe everyone, including our Mayor and City Council representatives, deserves fair pay for their work. Increasing Council pay will remove financial barriers, open the door for more diverse candidates to serve, and ensure a more representative democracy—paving the way for a more equitable future for Boulder.

What is the problem :

City Council members currently make less than the minimum wage for the 20+ hours of work they do on a weekly basis. Most people can't afford to run for office if the compensation is so low. Not only is the pay low, but it has not kept up with wages in our community and has been completely outpaced by the rapidly rising cost of housing.

Boulder currently pays its elected officials significantly less than peer cities:

Boulder Measure 2C

Endorsements

Daily Camera

“The notion of citizen-legislators is a wholesome and idealistic model of local governance… but all the admirable ambitions in the world can’t make up for the fact that this model keeps the door on elected service firmly shut for those who cannot afford to work for such a low wage.”

New Era Colorado

“Increasing Council pay will remove some financial barriers that stop more people from running for office and enable more young people to serve as City Councilors, creating a more representative democracy and ensuring a more equitable future for Boulder.”

Eric Budd Voter Guide

“Middle class and working class people will have more even footing amongst the more wealthy and retired people who might want to serve on council.”

Colorado Senate President Steve Fenberg

“I’m voting YES”

Former Boulder Mayor Suzanne Jones and Former County Commissioner Elise Jones

“VOTE YES. As Zan knows firsthand, serving effectively on the City Council requires a significant, largely uncompensated, time commitment. If we want our elected bodies to be more inclusive and reflective of the diversity of our community, we have to make it more affordable for would-be Council members who have fewer resources to serve by increasing the compensation for their service.”

Former Boulder Mayor, Sam Weaver

FAQs

  • Council pay was last updated in 1989 when it set pay to $5,000 per year. Since then, the pay has been updated annually for inflation and is now around $12,500 per year.

  • Council pay will be set to 40% and 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for council members and the mayor, respectively.

  • The proposal will go into effect in December 2026 at the swearing-in of new council members after the 2026 election. Current council members will not get a pay increase unless they run for office again and are re-elected.

  • Approving the new council pay would move the cost for all nine council members from about 0.02% of the city budget to 0.07%. The total pay for all council members would be roughly equivalent to the pay and benefits of one or two senior city staff.