Johnson County votes to increase minimum wage

ILII, Iowa Leading Indicators

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has voted to increase the county’s recommended minimum wage by 81 cents to $11.56 per hour, effective July 1, 2022. The board of supervisors used Consumer Price Index data to set the increase, which is based on inflation.

Though the wage increase is 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. The board of supervisors has voted to increase the minimum wage in Johnson County since 2015.

“Johnson County is full of people who work hard every day in our community,” said Royceann Porter, chairperson of the board of supervisors. “Annually increasing the minimum wage in our county will continue to have a positive impact for workers and businesses. We encourage all Johnson County businesses to support their employees and increase wages to $11.56 per hour on July 1.”

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.

On Sept. 10, 2015, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance establishing a Johnson County minimum wage. According to that ordinance, the minimum wage in Johnson County was raised in three steps – 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 2017, Gov. 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.