Edited release
03/29/24
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has voted to increase the county’s recommended minimum wage.
Though the wage increase is symbolic in nature and unenforceable under State law, the Supervisors approved the increase to remain in line with the Board’s vote in September 2015 to begin phased increases. At that time, they began incremental increases to move the wage to $8.20 per hour on Nov. 1, 2015, to $9.15 per hour on May 1, 2016, and to $10.10 per hour on Jan. 1, 2017. In March 2017, Governor Terry Branstad signed legislation eliminating the ability of jurisdictions within the State of Iowa to set a minimum wage above the State minimum wage. Johnson County had a higher minimum wage than the State for 17 months, including three months when it was $10.10 per hour.
The Board voted this week to increase the County’s current recommended minimum wage to $12.64 per hour, effective July 1st. They used Consumer Price Index data to set the increase, which is based on inflation.
The State of Iowa’s minimum wage was increased to $7.25 per hour in 2008, ahead of the Federal increase to $7.25 in 2009, but has remained at $7.25 and is not indexed for inflation.
More information on the minimum wage ordinance is available at www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/wage.