Same state, two very different paychecks. Flagstaff’s minimum wage is going from $18.35 to $19 an hour on Jan. 1, 2027. Arizona’s statewide minimum wage will be $15.65, putting Flagstaff $3.35 higher than the rest of the state. That number wasn’t simply picked by the city. Flagstaff voters passed the Minimum Wage Act in 2016, which requires the wage to adjust with inflation each year. With August CPI up 3.4% from a year ago, another increase is coming. Flagstaff also eliminated its tip credit last year, meaning servers and bartenders are paid the full minimum wage rather than a lower tipped wage. For workers, that means one of the highest minimum wages in Arizona. For local businesses, it’s another increase on top of rising operating costs. Some downtown business owners say those increases are adding up and have pushed for more events and foot traffic to help bring customers downtown. Phoenix service workers, be honest: would an extra $3.35 an hour be enough to make you move to Fl...