In an effort to get ahead of the expected city minimum wage increase this summer, Firecreek Coffee Company in Flagstaff has already begun implementing a higher wage per hour to its employees.

“We felt we needed to set an example,” said Mike Funk, owner of Firecreek Coffee Company. “We are increasing our prices but we are paying our employees a fair wage.”

Although the city council could put a block to the amendment to increase the minimum wage to $12 an hour, many local businesses are putting plans into action now to help combat the new labor costs. All of Funk’s 20 employees have been given raises well above the $10 per hour minimum mandated by state law. 

“The minimum wage increase does affect us, but we have always been trying to pay workers more,” he said. 

Of course, this has meant that prices have been increased for customers of Firecreek Coffee Company. However, the feedback has been positive so far and Funk believes that the customers are willing to pay more money for a product that is special. 

“It’s nice to see people are putting their money where their vote is,” he said.

Funk has plans to increase the prices of his product with every continuous minimum wage jump that takes place. He is hoping that each next price increase for the customers will work out to be a smaller jump than the one he just initiated.