Symbolic wage increase to take effect Monday

Symbolic wage increase to take effect Monday
Hunter
6/25/19

It’s largely symbolic and not enforceable legally, but the Johnson County Board of Supervisors is reminding employers and employees that their recommended minimum wage is to be increased to $10.40 an hour effective July 1.

The Board approved the increase to stay true to their vote in September 2015 to begin increases. At that time, they voted to move the minimum wage to $8.20 an hour on November 1, $9.15 an hour on May 1 2016 and $10.10 by January 2017.

Then-governor Terry Branstad signed legislation in March of 2017 that specifically eliminated the ability of local jurisdictions to enforce or set a minimum wage above the state minimum.

The board continues to recommend minimum wage increases despite the legislation, and bases their additional bumps in the minimum wage on the Consumer Price Index. Last July it was raised to $10.27.

The state’s minimum wage has been $7.25 for ten years and hasn’t been adjusted for inflation.