Adams County considering a local minimum wage

DENVER (KDVR) — Adams County is considering implementing a countywide minimum wage, and it’s asking locals for their input before making a decision.

House Bill 19-1210 was signed in 2019, allowing local governments in Colorado to establish a minimum wage for workers and employers in their jurisdictions.

Adams County launched an online survey asking residents, workers and business owners for their thoughts on minimum wage policy, how it may impact the community and things the county should consider for this decision.

“To ensure the county is making a well-informed decision, we are working to understand the economic impacts of different minimum wage policies for workers, businesses, residents, local government, and the local economy,” the county said on the website.

The online questionnaire asks respondents where they live and work and what they think an appropriate minimum wage would be. It also asks how an increase in the local minimum wage might impact themselves, other workers or their business or organization. The survey includes a field for respondents to write out what they have to say.

The county also has a couple of hour-long virtual listening sessions that residents can join to share their thoughts. Upcoming sessions are scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Spanish and Wednesday at 6 p.m. in English .

Adams County boundaries are northeast of Denver including parts of Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Reunion, Brighton and parts of Aurora.

The City and County of Denver was the first local government to implement a local minimum wage, which passed in 2019 and took effect on Jan. 1, 2020. Edgewater became the second local government to pass a local minimum wage, which began on Jan. 1, 2024. Boulder County became the third, introducing a local hourly minimum wage in January.

Colorado’s minimum wage in 2024 is $14.42 unless a higher local minimum wage is in effect.

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