Colorado is facing a lawsuit from a state employee who claims she and dozens of coworkers were paid less than Denver’s minimum wage after their office relocated into the city, a dispute that has triggered fierce criticism from residents and state workers alike.
First reported by Denverite, Jenny Telles, an administrative assistant with the Colorado Department of Revenue, says she discovered the issue after spotting a bus stop advertisement listing Denver’s minimum wage at $19.29 per hour. According to the lawsuit, Telles was earning roughly a dollar less despite working in a Denver office between January and April.
The case could potentially expand into a class action lawsuit covering other state employees who may have been underpaid over the past three years.
The controversy has become even more explosive because lawmakers recently passed SB26-193, a bill that clarifies circumstances under which the state can avoid complying with local minimum wage ordinances.
At the center of the backlash is a remark from Republican state Rep. Rick Taggart, who argued that tracking multiple local wage rates would be difficult for state government.
“That would be virtually impossible for us to keep up with because we have so many different municipalities,” Taggart said during a committee hearing.
That explanation did not go over well with many Coloradans.
One local over on the Denver subreddit dismissed the argument outright, writing, “Lol ‘it is impossible there’s too many different localities it’ll drive us crazy!’ There’s four. Can still count them on one hand.”
State Workers Say The Problem Goes Far Beyond One Lawsuit
While the legal battle centers on Denver’s minimum wage, many commenters said the dispute highlights what they view as a much larger problem with state employment.
Several self-identified state workers described compensation levels as dramatically below private sector standards.
One commenter claimed Colorado seeks applicants with expertise in fields such as Python, SQL, statistics, and Tableau while offering salaries that start around $52,000 per year and top out near $80,000. Others argued that benefits and pension packages are no longer strong enough to offset lower pay.
Another user wrote, “Colorado State Employee salaries are some of the lowest I’ve ever seen. They want 10 yrs of experience to make $45k.”
Critics also questioned the state’s justification that complying with local wage laws would be overly complex.
Commenters repeatedly pointed out that private companies already manage different pay rates and tax requirements across multiple cities and states. Some argued that modern payroll software can automatically flag wage requirements based on an employee’s work location.
Meanwhile, Telles is seeking unpaid wages, penalties, damages, and attorney fees. Her lawsuit argues that the recently passed legislation should not erase claims tied to earlier periods when employees were allegedly paid below Denver’s minimum wage.
The governor’s office declined to comment on the lawsuit, while the Department of Revenue had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
For many Colorado workers following the case, the issue has become about more than a single dollar per hour. It has become a test of whether state government should be held to the same wage standards it expects everyone else to follow.
