Hennepin County Passes $20 Minimum Wage For Employees

HENNEPIN COUNTY, MN — The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners Tuesday raised the minimum wage for all county employees from $15 to $20 an hour. The new wage will go into effect starting March 28.

"Many of Hennepin County's lowest-wage workers have been county-involved at some point, or currently rely on public assistance," Commissioner Chris LaTondresse released said in a news release.

With the average family size in Minnesota being three people — a married couple with one child, one parent working full-time, and one working part-time — the minimum hourly wage to cover their basic-needs cost of living would be $19.98, according to the county.

"When we move these residents into stable jobs with a living wage, it not only changes their trajectory, it helps us advance our goal of moving residents off government support," LaTondresse continued.

"Moving residents from poverty and public assistance to opportunity and self-sufficiency is a better use of taxpayer dollars. It makes all of us stronger. If every Hennepin County resident made at least $20 per hour we would see a significant reduction in poverty and reliance on costly public assistance programs. So, today's action is also a clarion call for other large employers to follow Hennepin County's example. You have an opportunity to serve our taxpayers by joining us in moving more Hennepin County residents off government support."