An increase to the minimum wage will be on Colorado’s ballot this fall.
The Secretary of State’s office announced Thursday the measure has enough valid signatures to qualify.
If the initiative passes, Colorado’s minimum wage would rise to $9.30 an hour on the first day of 2017, and increase by 90 cents each year until it reaches $12 an hour in the year 2020. After that, the minimum wage would be adjusted every year based on the Consumer Price Index.
Backers say the measure will help the state’s economy by boosting the pay of low wage workers. Opponents say it will hurt small businesses with tight margins, and doesn’t account for the lower cost of living in many rural parts of the state.
The Secretary of State's office is still checking signatures for seven other citizen initiatives to see if they will make the ballot.
