HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-119APRIL 14, 2009 09 -119 RESOLUTION
(CARRIED LOST LAID OVER X WITHDRAWN )
UNTIL APRIL 28, 2009
PURPOSE: REQUEST STATE TO MODIFY THE PROPOSED BUDGET BILL
IN REGARD TO APPLICATION OF PREVAILING WAGE RATE
TO LOCAL PROJECTS
INITIATED BY: CITY ADMINISTRATION
WHEREAS, Governor Doyle's proposed biennial state budget, AB 75, would
make the prevailing wage law applicable to virtually any construction project, public or
private, costing more than $2,000 in government funds; and
WHEREAS, the calculation of prevailing wage is a flawed process that bears little
resemblance to actual prevailing wages in a community or region; and
WHEREAS, under current law the prevailing wage requirements only apply to
multiple -trade public works projects over $234,000 and single -trade public works
projects over $48,000; and
WHEREAS, reducing the threshold to $2,000 will increase the cost to Wisconsin
residents of small construction projects, public and private, to which taxpayer funds are
contributed; and
WHEREAS, examples of these projects that would directly impose additional
costs on Wisconsin residents include:
➢ curb and gutter work outside people's homes;
➢ housing rehabilitation programs that benefit thousands of low- income
➢ homeowners and renters across Wisconsin;
➢ facade improvements for small businesses;
➢ lead remediation programs in older neighborhoods;
➢ projects undertaken by housing trust funds and numerous private groups; and
➢ regional revolving loan funds (which are exempt from federal prevailing wage
provisions); and
WHEREAS, the budget provision would further hinder economic growth by
affecting private construction in tax increment financing (TIF) districts as well as a wide
range of other economic development activities in addition to those enumerated above;
APRIL 14, 2009
09 -119 RESOLUTION
CONT'D
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Oshkosh joins the
Wisconsin Alliance of Cities and requests that the Governor and Legislature modify the
budget bill to trigger the applicability of prevailing wage at least $1 million in financial
assistance before prevailing wage would be triggered only when direct subsidies to
developers and other taxpayer contributions to economic development projects exceed
$1 million; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Oshkosh also joins the Wisconsin
Alliance of Cities to request that the Governor and Legislature modify the budget bill to
ensure that all government activities that are exempt from federal prevailing wage
requirements also be exempt from state requirements.