Nearly a year after Johnson County became the first in Iowa to raise their minimum wage above the federal standard of $7.25 an hour, more Iowa counties are now planning to do the same. In Wapello County, the three member County Board of Supervisors intends to raise the minimum wage in stages, eventually reaching a minimum wage of $10.10 in January of 2019. The proposal is to raise the minimum wage by 95 cents each January until reaching $10.10. The wage would be adjusted each July thereafter to account for any increases in the Consumer Price Index for the Midwest Region as published by the US Department of Labor.

Community reaction has been mixed, with many speaking out both in favor and opposed to the ordinance. The proposed ordinance has already passed two public hearings. The supervisors will hold one final public hearing in the coming weeks.

The Polk County board of Supervisors is expected to draft a new minimum wage ordinance in October. In Cedar Rapids, the Linn County Supervisors could pass a similar ordinance as soon as September 12.

(Radio Iowa)