Exploring the City’s New Authority to Modify the Tip Offset
First reading of Proposed Ordinance 8754 to establish a local tip offset occurred on June 25. The second reading and public hearing were held on July 30, at which Council chose not to modify the local tip offset.
La primera lectura de la Ordenanza Propuesta 8754 para establecer un ajuste local de propinas ocurrió el 25 de junio. La segunda lectura y audiencia pública se llevaron a cabo el 30 de julio, en la cual el Concejo decidió no modificar el ajuste local de propinas.
The city is seeking community feedback as City Council considers whether to adjust the city’s tip offset. The online questionnaire can be completed anonymously. Additional background information and a Tip Offset and Base Wage Calculator is available online at Exploring the City’s New Authority to Modify the Tip Offset. The online questionnaire closed on June 2, 2026.
Responses were provided in the June 25 Council meeting packet.
First reading of Proposed Ordinance 8754 to establish a local tip offset occurred on June 25.
The second reading and a public hearing is scheduled for July 30. If Council chooses to modify the local tip offset, a final proposed ordinance will go before Council for a third reading, likely on August 20.
If City Council adopts an ordinance to modify the tip offset, the new tip offset and associated base wage for tipped employees would go into effect in January 2027.
El Gobierno de la Municipalidad de Boulder quiere conocer la opinión de la comunidad porque el Concejo Municipal está considerando si debe o no ajustar la compensación por propinas. El cuestionario en línea puede completarse de forma anónima. Información adicional de contexto y una Calculadora de Compensación por Propinas y Salario Base están disponibles en línea en Análisis de la nueva autoridad del gobierno municipal para ajustar la compensación por propinas | Ciudad de Boulder
What is the Tip Offset and How Does it Work?
The tip offset is the amount an employer can subtract from a tipped worker’s hourly wage because that worker also earns tips. This means the employer pays a lower base wage, and tips make up the rest. In Boulder, the tip offset only applies to food and beverage establishments.
This system assumes that part of a tipped worker’s income comes from their employer, and part comes from customers’ tips.
In Colorado, the tip offset is $3.02 unless an eligible local jurisdiction raises that amount.
By law, tipped workers must still earn at least the full minimum wage. If their tips don’t add enough to reach minimum wage, the employer has to make up the difference.
¿Qué es la compensación por propinas y cómo funciona?
La compensación por propinas es el dinero que un empleador puede descontar del salario por hora de un trabajador porque recibe propinas. Esto significa que el empleador paga un salario base más bajo y las propinas compensan la diferencia. En Boulder, este tipo de compensación por propinas solo aplica a los negocios que se dedican a la venta de comida y bebidas.
Este sistema asume que parte del salario de estos trabajadores es pagado por el empleador y la otra parte viene de las propinas del cliente.
En Colorado, la compensación por propinas es de $3.02, a menos que una jurisdicción local autorizada decida aumentarla.
Según la ley, los trabajadores que ganan propinas deberían aún así ganar el salario mínimo completo. Si las propinas no suman lo suficiente para ganar el salario mínimo, el empleador tiene que pagar la diferencia.
What else should City Council know? ¿Qué más debería saber el Concejo Municipal?
First reading of Proposed Ordinance 8754 to establish a local tip offset occurred on June 25. The second reading and public hearing were held on July 30, at which Council chose not to modify the local tip offset.
La primera lectura de la Ordenanza Propuesta 8754 para establecer un ajuste local de propinas ocurrió el 25 de junio. La segunda lectura y audiencia pública se llevaron a cabo el 30 de julio, en la cual el Concejo decidió no modificar el ajuste local de propinas.
A web page
Una página web
that has more
que tiene más
than one language
de un idioma
is really annoying.
es realmente molesta.
There are much better ways to provide a multi-lingual web site.
Economic vitality doesn't come from a few millionaires keeping a 2nd home in town and going out to eat a few times per year, but rather from the backbone of the community workforce. When they are pushed out because the cost of running a business in Boulder and simply living in Boulder is too great, we all lose.
The cost of living in Boulder is already astronomical for people working unsalaried jobs, many including myself are working very hard just to be able to stay in this town. Reducing base wages and going backwards is both cruel in a deeply trying economic moment in our country, and cuts out an entire workforce \from being able to afford to stay in our community.
This tip issue starts with IRS law and is reflected in state law. The whole picture needs to be considered in order to truly understand the implications of any changes.
Sounds like the city of boulder better get their act together or are you gonna lose a lot of great restaurants like Alex Schulers Tangerine
This is a snowball effect of course because rents are ridiculously high and people will just move out like I did. I’m in Leadville now. I can’t afford Boulder.