Minimum Wage Efforts in Boulder County
What is the issue?
The Boulder County Commissioners have created a minimum wage ordinance which applies solely to Niwot and unincorporated areas. However, Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Lyons, and Superior all view the ordinance as untenable and have set their own reasonable minimum wages.
– Small farmers and businesses in unincorporated Boulder County must pay a minimum wage that is 11.8% higher than surrounding cities and 6.5% higher than the City of Boulder.
– This wage disparity places a disproportionate strain on our small businesses compared to the surrounding Boulder County cities.
– It gets worse: By 2030, the minimum wage will reach $25 per hour and continue increasing based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), while nearby cities follow the State of Colorado’s minimum wage, which is currently $14.81 per hour with a CPI-based increase of 2.7%.
– Unincorporated Boulder County minimum wage is currently $16.57/hr and set to rise again on Jan. 1, 2026.
– This level of minimum wage will actually decrease the number of jobs available in unincorporated Boulder County.
What are we asking for?
We are not opposed to minimum wage increases. We are simply asking the Commissioners to pause the increase to unincorporated Boulder County businesses and farmers, until the rest of the municipalities catch up. At that point, the unincorporated minimum wage can match the surrounding cities minimum wage. This is simply a plea for equal treatment between businesses in unincorporated and incorporated Boulder County.
What can I do to help?
– Get Educated
– Common Sense Institute Colorado research report Here
– The Daily Camera Editorial Board supports our efforts. Read the latest Daily Camera Minimum Wage Ed Op here
– If you are a Boulder County Farmer, join the Community Farmers Alliance (CoFA)
– Discuss the issue with friends and family.
– Volunteer to speak about the issue at public events.
– Attend the BOCC public meetings. Here’s a link to the BOCC website Board of County Commissioners – Boulder County where you can sign up to attend a meeting and speak if you wish. Board of County Commissioners – Boulder County
– Write to your commissioners- Please call the front desk at 303-441-3500 for inquiries about the Commissioners’ schedules, constituent matters, and other administrative matters.
– Contact the Board of County Commissioners at [email protected] about a specific county or constituent issue.
Download, print, & sign the letter here to send to the Commissioners.
