Resolution No. 2009 – 02
RE: Resolution Opposing Proposed Changes to Wisconsin Prevailing Wage Law
 

RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF CLOVERLAND
County of Vilas
 

Whereas, Governor Doyle's proposed biennial state budget, AB75, proposed to make the prevailing wage law applicable to any public work contract over $2,000; and 

Whereas, under the current law the prevailing wage requirements only apply to multiple trade public works projects over $234,000 and single trade works projects over $48,000; and 

Whereas, reducing the threshold to $2,000 will increase the cost of small public works projects previously exempted from the prevailing wage requirement; and 

Whereas, the cost increase to pay prevailing wages on all public works projects over $2,000 will force municipalities to reduce the number of/or size of public works projects or raise taxes to meet the increased costs, which is an increased burden on property taxpayers; and 

Whereas, the Governor's proposed state budget also for the first time proposed to make the prevailing wage law applicable to private projects that receive public financing; and 

Whereas, the requirement to pay prevailing wage on all public works projects over $2,000 will take away the competitive advantage that many small local contractors have on smaller public works projects over larger contractors from outside the immediate community, thus hurting the local economy in these communities while still increasing the cost of these projects; and 

Whereas, the proposed changes to the prevailing wage law in the state budget are non-fiscal policy changes that only affect local government and should be introduced as a separate legislative bill rather than be included in the state budget; and 

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the board of the town of Cloverland Vilas County opposes the changes to the prevailing wage law included in Governor Doyle's state budget proposal, AB 75, and hereby urges the Wisconsin State Legislature to remove these items from the budget bill. 

Adopted this 20 day of April, 2009