Denver Is The Latest City In U.S. To Approve A $15 Minimum Wage

DENVER, CO — The Denver City Council approved an ordinance Monday to raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15.87 by 2022. The council voted 11-0 in favor of the ordinance, which was submitted by Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Councilwoman Robin Kniech.

Denver's current minimum wage is $11.10, which will be boosted in the following increments:

• $12.85 an hour on Jan. 1, 2020;
• $14.77 an hour on Jan. 1, 2021;
• $15.87 an hour on Jan. 1, 2022; and
• Annual adjustments each year thereafter based on the Consumer Price Index.

Seattle was among the first U.S. cities to raise the minimum wage for large employers gradually from 2014 to more than $15 per hour by 2018. A study by the University of Washington shows that while many Seattle workers' hours were slightly reduced, their higher paychecks compensated for the reduction. The state of New York's downstate region, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, California and Connecticut have also passed laws to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next few years.

Eight cities in California have already raised the minimum wage to $15 or more.

The proposal to raise Denver's minimum wage was revised during townhalls and meetings with stakeholders, organizations, community leaders and residents, the city said.

"One of our most important values is not just creating an economy where businesses can succeed, but where people can succeed – an economy that works for everyone, where everyone has access to a home, a job and a future," Hancock said in a statement. "Increasing people's wages, so they can afford to live in Denver and continue contributing to and benefiting from Denver's success, is what this proposal is all about. I'm thankful to everyone who has given us their feedback and voiced their thoughts, because it has led to a better and stronger bill to support Denver residents."

Before a final proposal was submitted, Hancock, Kniech and other leaders consulted with chambers of commerce, large and small businesses, businesses that employ tipped workers, workers, labor unions, business improvement districts, trade associations and industry groups, the city said.

"Our residents were clear — too many of you are working hard but still unable to make ends meet, and a wage increase is urgent. We heard you and will proceed in 2020," Kniech said in a statement. "We also heard that a smaller first step and spreading the proposal out over an additional year would help our small, locally owned businesses better prepare and adapt to higher wages – we heard you, too, and will be making these adjustments."

The minimum wage increase will boost the paychecks of more than 90,000 people who work in Denver, the city said.