The Niwot Community Association (NCA) is keenly aware that everyday life in our community is intertwined with the places we shop, eat, and frequent in Niwot. Because the minimum wage in Niwot has a direct impact on our community members who work for, own, and patronize the shops, farms and other small businesses in and around our town, the NCA is asking you to complete a short survey of 6 questions.
In keeping with the NCA’s mission of educating the public and serving as a two-way conduit of information between the community and Boulder County, the results of this survey will be shared with Boulder County Commissioners as a gauge of sentiment around the current minimum wage ordinance and its potential effects.
Background
On January 1, 2024, an ordinance established by the Boulder County Commissioners began requiring annual increases to the minimum wage through 2030 at a rate significantly above the projected consumer price index (CPI, presently at 2.4%).
Incorporated cities within Boulder County (including Boulder, Erie, Longmont, Lafayette and Louisville) are not required to follow the ordinance. Each of those cities currently plans smaller increases more closely tied to the CPI. However, Niwot and the rest of unincorporated Boulder County – representing ~13% of Boulder County’s population (see source #5) – are required to follow the Boulder County Commissioners’ ordinance.
Based on current policies in place, projected annual minimum wage increases are as follows:
| Colorado | City Of Boulder | Unincorporated Boulder County | |
| 2024 | $14.42 | $14.42 | $15.69 |
| 2025 | $14.81 | $15.57 | $16.57 |
| 2026 | * $15.17 | $16.82 | $17.99 |
| 2027 | * $15.53 | $18.17 | $19.53 |
| 2028 | * $15.90 | * $18.61 | $21.21 |
| 2029 | * $16.28 | * $19.05 | $23.03 |
| 2030 | * $16.67 | * $19.51 | $25.00 |
| 2031 | * $17.07 | * $19.98 | * $25.60 |
| 2032 | * $17.48 | * $20.46 | * $26.21 |
| 2033 | * $17.90 | * $20.95 | * $26.84 |
| 2034 | * $18.33 | * $21.45 | * $27.49 |
| 2035 | * $18.77 | * $21.97 | * $28.15 |
| 2036 | * $19.22 | * $22.49 | * $28.82 |
| 2037 | * $19.69 | * $23.03 | * $29.51 |
| 2038 | * $20.16 | * $23.59 | * $30.22 |
| 2039 | * $20.64 | * $24.15 | * $30.95 |
| 2040 | * $21.14 | * $24.73 | * $31.69 |
* Future minimum wage increases based on consumer price index, values are estimated assuming the current CPI of 2.4% https://www.bls.gov/cpi/
The graph below shows a solid line for known fixed values and a dotted line for calculated projected values.
(click graph for larger view)
Sources
- State of Colorado: https://cdle.colorado.gov/dls
- Longmont, Lafayette, Erie, Louisville: https://www.keka.com/us/minimum-wages/colorado
- City of Boulder: https://bouldercolorado.gov/local-minimum-wage
- Boulder County: https://bouldercounty.gov/departments/commissioners/local-minimum-wage/
- Boulder Economic Council. Demographics. https://reports.mysidewalk.com/b54de3c776
Proponents of the Boulder County Commissioners’ 2023 mandated minimum wage ordinance argue this move was necessary to address economic disparities in our communities and to raise the living standard of workers at the lowest income levels. The rising cost of living in Boulder County is cited as a factor in setting a higher “local” minimum wage in unincorporated areas with the expectation that more money from the increased wages will be spent in the local economy on items such as housing, childcare, transportation, and food. (www.assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/boulder-county-minimum-wage-memo-2023-24.pdf)
As written on the Boulder County Local Minimum Wage webpage: “According to state statute, the Boulder County Commissioners only have the authority to establish a local minimum wage in unincorporated Boulder County. The commissioners are committed to working with municipal governments within Boulder County to establish one minimum wage for the whole county.”
Opponents are not against an increase in minimum wage but rather are asking that unincorporated Boulder County should not be required to pay higher wages than those in surrounding areas.
Because of the difference in wage requirements, those who challenge the ordinance believe there will be significant unintended consequences in unincorporated areas. Consequences cited include: prices will increase for local products/services, there will be threats to the viability of Niwot businesses and local farmers given the inability to be competitively priced, it will be necessary to raise the entire pay structure within each business, fewer minors living at home will be hired so that more skilled, full-time employees may be hired at the higher rate, and businesses will curtail their present level of community support in the form of donations and events.
For more information and views regarding the unincorporated Boulder County minimum wage issue, visit:
- https://bouldercounty.gov/departments/commissioners/local-minimum-wage/
- https://Niwot.com/minimum-wage/
- https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/colorado/research/jobs-and-our-economy/weighing-minimum-wage-increases-across-boulder-county
saveniwot.com
Survey is open July 10 – 25
Results will be posted by July 30th