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DENVER (AP) -- Colorado's lowest-paid workers could make even less next year.

The state has an adjustable minimum wage, and it could be the first in the nation to drop along with the cost of living.

Colorado is one of 10 states that tie minimum wages to inflation. The indexing is thought to protect low-wage workers from having flat wages as living costs go up.

But because Colorado's provision allows wage declines, the minimum wage could actually drop 3 cents an hour next year. It's currently at $7.28 an hour. It can't go lower than the federal minimum, $7.25.

If the wage is lowered by state labor officials in September, it would be first real minimum wage decrease in any state since the federal minimum wage law was passed in 1938.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)