Montrose Daily Press
Jan. 17, 2007
Colorado workers get a raise this year
By Kati O’Hare
Daily Press Writer
MONTROSE — Montrose consumers may see a slight increase in prices, mostly
when eating out, because businesses need to offset the cost of increased wages
for their employees.
In November, 53 percent of Colorado voters passed Amendment 42, which was
a measure to increase the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $6.85 and
from $2.13 to $3.83 for tipped employees.
The raise went into effect Jan. 1, and most employers haven’t yet seen the
effects but know they are coming.
Chuck Presby, owner of Red Barn Restaurant, said the wage increase would
affect 80 percent of his staff, being mostly wait staff, bussers and dishwashers.
“It’s a majority of my base,” he said, adding it will lead to increased cost for his
business, but has not come up with a plan to offset those costs.
Denny’s has already made changes to neutralize expenses by increasing some
menu prices by 10 to 15 cents. Assistant manager Diane Clayton said it was a
corporate decision.
The Montrose Denny’s has 20 waitresses, all of whom received the 80 percent
wage increase, and some hostesses also were affected. She figured the new
amendment will cost the company $340 per week just in wait staff.
Cafe 110 owner Eric Scott said he’ll “end up paying and take a loss.” The
increase applies to only about seven servers, but he said, will lead to about a
$15-a-day increase in expenses.
Matt Box, manager of Rose Bowl, said the increase would not affect the business
much because most employees are paid slightly above the new minimum wage.
He said if changes were needed to offset the costs, it wouldn’t be in the price of
bowling, but rather the prices for food and alcohol.
“We haven’t hired anyone since the increase, so (I’m) not sure of the effects,”
he said.
Like Rose Bowl, most businesses, with the exception of restaurants, said they
wouldn’t see much of an impact in cost because the starting pay for its
e