Charter amendment clarifying Auditor's wage-law enforcement authority

This updates charter language to reflect the Auditor’s Office’s long history and responsibility of wage enforcement. The Auditor’s Office has enforced the prevailing wage ordinance since 1950, and since 2016, has been tasked by council with additional enforcement responsibilities around minimum wage and wage theft. The office has a critical function to protect workers from exploitation and abuse, has collected approximately $10 million in restitution for workers, and has enforced the rights of more than 15,000 workers in the last decade alone.

Under the office’s duties in the charter, it adds language making it clear that the Auditor’s duties include enforcement of wage, worker protection, and workplace rights, as the Council requires by ordinance. This is a good governance measure to ensure the charter is easy to understand and includes the most accurate representation of Denver’s government.

Denver’s wage and workplace protection laws are only meaningful if they can be enforced. The Auditor’s Office plays a critical role in making sure employers follow the rules the Denver City Council passed.

This measure provides an important clarification: it expressly confirms that the Auditor’s Office may continue enforcing these laws as authorized by City Council ordinances. A YES vote helps prevent uncertainty about the city’s enforcement authority and ensures that workers and responsible employers can rely on a clear, consistent system.

Strong workplace protections benefit everyone. Workers deserve to be paid what they are owed and treated fairly. Employers who follow the law deserve a level playing field rather than competition from businesses that cut costs by violating worker protections. And Denver residents deserve confidence that laws enacted by their elected representatives can actually be enforced.

Voting YES is a vote for accountability, fairness, and effective local government.

For more than three-quarters of a century, the Denver Auditor’s Office has enforced wage laws. In the last 5 years, the Auditor has collected more than $9 million dollars and vindicated the rights of more than 15,000 workers across thousands of investigations. Denver has earned a reputation for strong workplace laws and

effective enforcement, which create fair workplaces and a level playing field for law-abiding employers who should not have to compete against businesses that fail to pay minimum wage, overtime, or provide paid sick leave.

The most common victims of wage theft are women, people of color, immigrants, young workers, and low- income people. While most victims of wage theft cannot afford an attorney, the Auditor’s Office provides a no-cost, effective means to enforce their fundamental rights. Every year, the Auditor collects millions of dollars for thousands of workers, and prevents future violations through a comprehensive system of education and enforcement.

This Charter amendment clarifies that the Auditor’s Office may continue to defend workers from wage theft and retaliation; protect the interests of ethical employers; and assert the values of a city that opposes workers’ rights violations. It does not expand the Auditor’s Office’s authority, but expressly aligns the language of the City Charter with existing law and practice.