Estes Park needs to increase the minimum wage
I am encouraged by the Estes Park Housing Authority’s success in producing hundreds of affordable units. However, we must face a hard truth: housing is only half the battle. To truly support our workforce, we need a two-prong approach that combines housing with livable local wages.
For years, Colorado municipalities were barred from setting their own minimum wages. That changed with the passage of HB 19-1210, which granted local governments the authority to establish wage floors that reflect their unique economies. Since then, we’ve seen a wave of action: Denver has moved to $19.29, Edgewater to $18.17, and Boulder County to $16.82. Even in the private sector, mountain peers like Vail Resorts implemented a $20.00 minimum years ago to stay competitive.
Meanwhile, Estes Park remains at the state baseline of $15.16 ($12.14 for tipped staff). This “one-size-fits-all” wage doesn’t work in a town where gas costs $1.00 more per gallon than in the valley, and grocery bills reflect a “mountain premium.”
If our wages are the same as those in Loveland or Longmont, we lose the “commuter war.” Why would a worker drive up the canyon for the same pay they can get down the street?
The State Legislature gave our Town Trustees the tools to address this inequality through HB 19-1210. It is time for Estes Park to join our peer resort communities and explore a local minimum wage approaching $20.00 an hour. Let’s ensure the people who keep our town running can actually afford to stay here.
Marty Miranda, Estes Park
AMEN!!!!!