From the City of Edgewater:
The Edgewater City Council wants to continue a community conversation, and engage various stakeholders, in a discussion about the potential for establishing, and increasing over time, a minimum hourly wage for persons employed within the City.
Colorado municipalities have the authority to establish, within certain limits, hourly wage requirements that are greater than the requirements of state law. Currently, the statewide minimum wage in Colorado is $13.65, the tip credit is $3.02, and the City has no control over either of those numbers.
The City Council believes that amount to be insufficient in Edgewater based upon the high cost of living in the Denver metropolitan area, and ongoing inflationary pressures. Accordingly, the City Council seeks community input on a policy that could, for example, if adopted:
- establish a minimum wage for the year 2024 that would be 10% over the statewide minimum wage; and
- establish a wage for 2025-2028 that is will increase year-over-year by 10%; and
- establish a wage for 2029 to equal the minimum wage that is established within the City of Denver that subsequently increases with Consumer Price Index(CPI) in parallel with Denver
By way of example, the following chart illustrates a possible framework for the policy described above, with the resulting minimum wage numbers, including the minimum wage for tipped employees:
|
Min Wage Table
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
2026
|
2027
|
2028
|
2029
|
| State of Colorado | $13.65 $10.36* |
$14.33** $11.31* |
$15.05** $12.03* |
$15.80** $12.78* |
$16.59** $13.57* |
$17.42** $14.40* |
$18.29** $15.27* |
| City of Denver | $17.29 $14.27* |
$18.15** $15.13* |
$19.06** $16.04* |
$20.01** $16.99* |
$21.01** $17.99* |
$22.06** $19.04* |
$23.16** $20.14* |
| City of Edgewater | $13.65 $10.63* |
$15.02 $12.00* |
$16.52 $13.50* |
$18.17 $15.15* |
$19.99 $16.97* |
$21.99 $18.97* |
$23.16*** $20.14* |
* Hourly wage for tipped worker based on State mandated $3.02 tip credit.
** Proposed wage based on estimates 5% CPI numbers (forecasted rates only).
*** Based on a 5.3% increase to level off with City of Denver wage rate (forecast only).
Finally, the following timeline illustrates the City Council’s desired framework for continuing the community discussion of a local minimum wage, and the City Council’s decision concerning the matter. Public comment and input is welcome at or before each of the Ordinance readings.
April 18, 2023- 1st Reading of Minimum Wage Ordinance
May 2, 2023- 2nd Reading of Minimum Wage Ordinance
January 1, 2024- Minimum Wage takes effect
City Council also requested that staff establish a Business Support Program in partnership with Jefferson County Small Business Development Center (Jeffco SBDC). An initial open house was held on April 3, 2023 to hear from local small businesses and help shape this program’s directionality. The potential direction of this program includes the following:
- Provide targeted resources for existing small businesses within Edgewater as they navigate day-to-day operations and decision-making.
- Help guide local businesses through potential growth or expansion.
- Support local business’s ability to navigate continued inflationary pressures.
- Help local businesses adapt to existing or potential legislative changes, including the potential impact of local increases in minimum wages.
Currently, City Council has voiced support for the city to fully subsidize this program’s cost for all active participants. Opportunity for further community input and more information are available at envisionedgewater.com.
Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.
What’s better for workers than a higher minimum wage? A tax on vacant land and unoccupied premises. A higher minimum wage discourages hiring. But a vacancy tax on residential property makes the owners get residential tenants (and set the rents within reach of wages), while a vacancy tax on commercial property makes the owners get business tenants, who in turn will need workers, leading to higher *market* wages and more stable jobs.
What’s better for business than a lower minimum wage? A tax on vacant land and unoccupied premises! A lower minimum wage cuts the spending power of prospective customers, and makes it harder for prospective employees to afford housing within a manageable distance of your business. But a vacancy tax on nearby residential property keeps it populated with prospective customers and workers, while a vacancy tax on nearby commercial property keeps it populated with complementary businesses that will attract foot traffic to *your* business.
Notice that a vacant-property tax is meant to be AVOIDED, not paid. Better still, avoidance of it would generate economic activity, expanding the bases of other taxes and allowing their rates to be cut, so that both workers and businesses would pay LESS tax!