DES MOINES — Polk County supervisors gave second round approval to a proposed minimum wage increase to $10.75 an hour even as citizens attending the board’s meeting called for a larger wage increase.
The board of supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday to approve the increase, starting with $8.75 an hour in April and climbing to $10.75 by January 2019.
Some speakers sought a $15 hourly minimum, but Supervisor Tom Hokensmith argued such a high wage would prompt cities in the counties to opt out of the increase.
The board will consider a final vote next week.
If approved, Polk would be Iowa’s fourth country to raise the minimum wage, following action by Johnson, Linn and Wapello counties. Polk County has the largest population of Iowa’s 99 counties.