Perry council declines to adopt resolution opposing State Question 832 on minimum wage

A proposed city resolution urging Perry voters to oppose State Question 832 failed after a roll-call vote Tuesday, leaving the council divided over whether the municipal body should take a public stance on a statewide minimum-wage referendum.

Derek, chair of the council's HP committee and the resolution’s sponsor, introduced the measure arguing the ballot question — which would raise minimum pay to a higher statutory floor and then link subsequent increases to the consumer price index — would “wreck small businesses” and eliminate exemptions for categories such as agricultural workers and some young employees. "What we're asking here is that we're opposed to state question 832 and ask our constituents to vote no on that," Derek said.

Other council members said the city should focus on local governance and questioned whether a municipal resolution urging a statewide vote would look partisan or overstep the council’s role. One councilor said the body should instead educate voters about potential local impacts without urging a particular vote.

After a motion to adopt the resolution and a second, the council recorded votes as entered in the meeting transcript: Coffee (yes), Bletza (no), Davis (no), Cold Iron (yes), Rob (no), Williams (yes), Rocher (no). That tally, as shown in the transcript, produced three affirmative votes and four negative votes, and the resolution did not pass.

The measure included language noting that if approved the question would raise the state minimum to $12 per hour at a future statutory date and then index increases to CPI, and that the proposal would eliminate some current exemptions. The resolution text in the council packet used the label "Resolution 2026-05" pending final numbering.

Councilors who opposed the resolution's adoption said they would still support public education about the question’s possible local consequences, such as effects on city-contracted services and small employers. Several members said the council could transmit concerns to the city's state legislators or publish explanatory materials without taking a partisan stance.

The council did not take further action on the measure at the meeting; staff indicated the resolution text could be revised and considered on other local agendas if members chose to pursue a different wording or approach.

The council's discussion and the vote were recorded in the meeting minutes; the transcript contained inconsistent spellings for some roll-call names, which are reported here as they appear in the record.