(The Center Square) – With just over a month until the new year, a proposed ordinance to increase the minimum wage in unincorporated King County in 2024 is still in committee.

The proposed ordinance would establish an hourly minimum wage rate of $18.99 for unincorporated King County for 2023 with an annual inflationary increase to begin on Jan. 1, 2024. The 2024 hourly minimum wage rate would be $20.29 to account for the 6.8% inflationary increase.

Despite being on the agenda for the King County Council meeting on Nov, 28, Ordinance 2023-0310 has yet to be passed out of the county’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee.

If the ordinance is approved by the county, the annual salary for an employee making $20.29 an hour would be approximately $40,580 for 40 hours per week and 50 weeks per year. According to 2022 Census data, the median household income for King County is $116,255.

Employers with 15 employees or fewer with an annual gross revenue of less than $2 million would have an hourly minimum wage rate of $3 less ($17.29). The reduction would decrease annually by 50 cents until no reduction is remaining.

Employers with more than 15 employees but fewer than 500 employees would have an hourly minimum wage rate of $2 less ($18.29). The reduction would decrease annually by $1 until no reduction is remaining.

At a minimum, King County Executive staff estimates an annual cost of $600,000 and a one-time cost between $775,000 and $900,000 to provide a basic level of implementation to establish an hourly minimum wage for unincorporated King County. 

Enforcement, investigation and compliance activities would also be considered for additional expenditures.

Unincorporated King County communities like White Center, Skyway and Vashon Island are subject to the state's minimum wage of $15.74. The minimum wage was set to increase to $16.28 starting in 2024. 

Three King County cities have raised their minimum wages in recent years. SeaTac raised its minimum wage 8.6% at the start of 2023, from its 2022 minimum wage of $17.54 per hour to $19.06 for hospitality and transportation employees. That is the highest in the U.S.

Last July, the Tukwila raised its minimum wage to $18.99.

Seattle’s minimum wage is $18.69 per hour for large employers. Next year it is set at $19.97 per hour.

The Center Square previously reported on the proposed minimum wage increase and noted that it may be voted on in early 2024.