LINN COUNTY, IA – September 12, 2016 – The Linn County Board of Supervisors today approved the third and final consideration of an ordinance increasing the minimum wage in Linn County. The supervisors approved the ordinance by a 4-1 margin.
The approved increase is for $1 per year for three years and takes effect Jan. 1, 2017. Today’s action by the Board of Supervisors will raise the current $7.25 minimum wage in Linn County as follows:
$8.25 as of January 1, 2017
$9.25 as of January 1, 2018
$10.25 as of January 1, 2019
“It is a historic moment for Linn County to become only the second county in Iowa to raise the minimum wage.” said Chair Ben Rogers, who proposed the ordinance. “This is the first step in trying to address wage inequality in our community and help people earning low wages to get onto the path towards greater independence.”
The ordinance will apply within the unincorporated areas of Linn County, Iowa and within any city or portion of any city within Linn County that does not enact a conflicting ordinance.
Supervisor John Harris voted against the ordinance, noting concerns he has heard from constituents regarding the increases in 2018 and 2019, as well as the absence of a youth wage.
The ordinance does not include automatic increases to the minimum wage based on the Consumer Price Index for the Midwest region. That provision was removed from the ordinance during the first consideration on Aug. 31. The ordinance also does not include a provision for youth wages.
The exceptions from the minimum wage requirements stated in Iowa Code Section 91D.1(2) apply to Linn County’s ordinance.
A copy of the approved ordinance is available on the Linn County website at www.linncounty.org/MinimumWage.
