Boulder County Passes Lower Minimum Wage Schedule

County Commissioners hear public comment from Michael Moss, farm owner and president of the Community Farmers Alliance, about the new minimum wage ordinance on Nov. 20, 2025. (Abby O’Brien / KGNU)

Boulder County Passes Lower Minimum Wage Schedule Abby O'Brien

Yesterday in a two-to-one vote, Boulder County Commissioners passed an ordinance that will slow the county’s minimum wage increase starting 2026. In 2023, the county passed a minimum wage increase schedule that would have reached $25 an hour by 2030, but this new ordinance lowers that year over year wage increase.The new schedule only applies to workers in unincorporated Boulder County.

This comes after several months of advocacy by farmers and small business owners in unincorporated Boulder County, who argued that the higher minimum wage schedule would be unsustainable for their businesses.

AJ Vigil (left) and Kai Ott (right) showed up to the Nov. 20, 2025 public hearing to oppose Boulder County Ordinance 2025-001, which will slow the county’s minimum wage schedule. (Abby O’Brien / KGNU)

This piece aired on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show with coverage of local and regional public affairs and news with headlines and commentary. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.