Minimum Wage Increase

In 2023 Boulder County raised the minimum wage and implemented an annual wage increase schedule to allow the county to reach $25 an hour by the year 2030.

The City of Boulder has committed to follow the county and other cities across the region in implementing a minimum wage height and annual schedule, beginning on January 1st 2025.*

Boulder Progressives supports a minimum wage increase and annual schedule that is at least commensurate with the county, and we would be likely to support other proposals that would increase wages in the city to an amount which is higher than the county given the city’s higher cost of living.

What problem(s) does this proposal aim to solve?*

• The City of Boulder, and Boulder County, have a significantly higher cost-of-living than the state of Colorado as a whole. Action by the city will come in line with Boulder County to boost wages and drive toward consistency in wages across the county.

  How does this proposal further high-level City goals and plans?*

• Cost of living in the City of Boulder is a critical issue and increasing wages is one critical step we can take to address it.

   

  *In 2024 Boulder City Council voted to raise the city minimum wage each year over the course of the next three years. While this was appreciated, the total increase was still far lower than that being advocated for by the statewide minimum wage coalition and by local advocacy groups, and in no way allows a person making minimum wage in the city to afford to live where the work.