Tacoma's Economic Development Committee takes its first formal step toward a potential local minimum wage on Tuesday, June 30, with a stakeholder engagement report that will directly inform a $20 proposal discussion two weeks later.

Committee Vice Chair Bushnell will present the community and stakeholder engagement report at the 10 a.m. meeting, according to the committee's posted agenda. The report, listed as item 26-0519, is the sole briefing item.

On Monday, July 14, the same committee is scheduled to discuss a $20 minimum wage proposal. The June 30 engagement findings will feed directly into that conversation.

A $20 hourly wage would represent a roughly 17% increase over Washington State's current $17.13 rate. It would place Tacoma above Bellingham ($19.13) but below Seattle ($21.30), Tukwila ($21.65), and Burien ($21.63 for large employers).

Tacoma is not currently among the eight Washington jurisdictions that have enacted local wage floors above the state minimum, according to the state Department of Labor and Industries.

A $20 minimum wage initiative previously failed to reach the ballot, KOMO News reported. Washington State does not allow tip credits, meaning any local Tacoma wage floor would apply in full to tipped workers.

The contents of the stakeholder engagement report have not been made public ahead of the meeting.

Residents can comment at the June 30 meeting in person at the Tacoma Municipal Building, virtually via Zoom, or by emailing [email protected] at least 24 hours in advance. The committee's $20 minimum wage proposal discussion is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.