HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions 2010 (43) RESOLUTION TO AMEND WISCONSIN'S PREVAILING WAGE LAW
Resolution No. q 3 C d 4/ 6,
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Legislature and the Governor made extensive changes to prevailing
wage laws (Sections 66.0903 and 103.49, Wis. Stats.) effective January 1, 2010, by enactment of the State
budget, 2009 Wisconsin Act 28; and
WHEREAS, under prior law the prevailing wage requirements applied only to multiple -trade
public works projects over $234,000 and single -trade public works projects over $48,000; and
WHEREAS, under current law prevailing wage requirements apply to public works projects of
$25,000 or more; and
WHEREAS, under current law the prevailing wage requirements apply to all private projects that
will become public which adds additional costs and time to land development with those costs being
passed on to the buyers; and
WHEREAS, the reduction in the prevailing wage requirements threshold to $25,000 has increased
the administration of and the cost of small public works projects in many communities previously exempt
from the prevailing wage requirements; and
WHEREAS, the difficulty in attempting to compare the details of the wide variety of the many
well-established prevailing union negotiated contracts and agreements has created dissension between
union employees, complicates pay scales, and disruption to adjustments made in these contracts for local
conditions; and
WHEREAS, the recent changes to the prevailing wage laws effective January 1, 2010, have
created confusion as it relates to the spirit of its intent and as it relates to Wis. Stats Sections 66.0301 (Z)
which is intended to assist intergovernmental cooperation and is to be interpreted liberally in favor of
cooperative actions between municipalities; and
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RESOLUTION TO AMEND WISCONSIN'S PREVAILING WAGE LAW
Resolution No. q 3 C d 4/ 6,
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Legislature and the Governor made extensive changes to prevailing
wage laws (Sections 66.0903 and 103.49, Wis. Stats.) effective January 1, 2010, by enactment of the State
budget, 2009 Wisconsin Act 28; and
WHEREAS, under prior law the prevailing wage requirements applied only to multiple -trade
public works projects over $234,000 and single -trade public works projects over $48,000; and
WHEREAS, under current law prevailing wage requirements apply to public works projects of
$25,000 or more; and
WHEREAS, under current law the prevailing wage requirements apply to all private projects that
will become public which adds additional costs and time to land development with those costs being
passed on to the buyers; and
WHEREAS, the reduction in the prevailing wage requirements threshold to $25,000 has increased
the administration of and the cost of small public works projects in many communities previously exempt
from the prevailing wage requirements; and
WHEREAS, the difficulty in attempting to compare the details of the wide variety of the many
well-established prevailing union negotiated contracts and agreements has created dissension between
union employees, complicates pay scales, and disruption to adjustments made in these contracts for local
conditions; and
WHEREAS, the recent changes to the prevailing wage laws effective January 1, 2010, have
created confusion as it relates to the spirit of its intent and as it relates to Wis. Stats Sections 66.0301 (Z)
which is intended to assist intergovernmental cooperation and is to be interpreted liberally in favor of
cooperative actions between municipalities; and
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WHEREAS, the changes that were made to prevailing wage laws effective January 1, 2010, have
added to the cost of projects in St. Croix County at a time when St. Croix County is operating under
.numerous financial constraints including levy limits and tax rate limits.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors
opposes the changes made to the prevailing wage law, and urges the Legislatures and the Governor to
amend it by:
1. Acknowledging that bona fide unions do pay fair and equitable wages and
benefits that are considered prevailing for their area which already is congruent
with the spirit of the law, and
2. That a legislative audit of the prevailing wage laws is needed to streamline and
correct inconstancies and for proper comparisons between entities, and
3. That smaller projects (statewide average cost to resurfacing a rural 2 -lane
highway) need to be removed from the law to avoid heavy delivery costs and to
promote small businesses.
FURTHER, be it resolved that the County Clerk provide copies of this resolution to the legislators
representing St. Croix County and the Governor.
Offered by the Transportation Committee
YES NO ABSTAIN ABSENT SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE
[vJ ❑ ❑ ❑ Roger Rebholz
0' ❑ ❑ ❑ Alfie Schrank
❑ ❑ ❑ Bill Peavey
�'' ❑ ❑ ❑ Brian Hurtgen C+✓-
❑ ❑ ❑ Ryan S. Sicard
This Resolution was adopted by the St. Croix County Board
Reviewed as to form on r — (Cl * of Supervisors on ., fil --b— - 7 do 10
6�
r do�
Greg T4imerman, Corporation Counsel Cindy Campb ; ount Clerk
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