March 29, 2024

Polk County gives initial OK to minimum wage increase

DES MOINES (AP) — Polk County officials have given initial approval to an increase in the minimum wage.

The Des Moines Register reports supervisors Tuesday gave the first of three approvals needed to increase the wage from the state and federal rate of $7.25 an hour to $10.75 by January 2019.

The wage would climb to $8.75 by April, $9.75 in January 2018 and finally $10.75.

If the increase goes through, Polk County would be Iowa’s fourth county to raise the minimum wage, following action by Johnson, Linn and Wapello counties. Polk County, with about 450,000 residents, has the largest population of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Minimum wage increases have come up repeatedly at the Legislature, but proposals have failed because of opposition by Republican lawmakers.