Employers hike salaries

A national survey that found better than 80 percent of small and medium-sized businesses increased employee compensation in 1999 is good news for employees, but carries an ominous catch for Northern Colorado business.

“No, no surprise at all,´ said Phil Erby of the 82 percent figure. Erby is owner of Erie-based Industrial Technologies Inc. and a member of The Alternative Board (TAB), a national organization made up of small and medium-sized companies that participated in the nationwide survey.

Dan Kehrwald a Loveland businessman and area facilitator for TAB, said the survey results indicate that “TAB members have demonstrated their willingness to invest…