MONROE - City Hall was filled Thursday night at a town hall meeting as citizens and city leaders met to question Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, and Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, about the proposed changes in the prevailing wage law.
The room was roughly divided with city leaders and local contractors on one side of the room, and out-of-town union workers on the other.
Davis spoke in favor of removing the prevailing wage law from Assembly Bill 75, explaining that it would increasing construction costs and slow future business development, "making matters worse" in the economic conditions of the state.
Davis' main concern was prevailing wages being applied to private projects which received any government funding.
"For the first time, it is applicable to private projects, and those include any project Monroe is doing with TIF, BID or facade improvements," he said.
Union workers challenged Davis.
"Are you saying we should pay as little as possible to save money?" one asked.
Another union worker said under prevailing wages, workers receive benefits.
"Why don't people have some courtesy to (let them) retire with dignity?" he asked.
Davis said the prevailing wage law doesn't need to be changed to keep businesses competitive.
"In this economic climate, we don't want to be adding to businesses' cost," he responded. "We're trying to be competitive in a different economic climate."
Davis said the prevailing wage adds to the cost of projects.
"Some of these projects won't be able to move forward," he said. "As a taxpayer, I strongly support the intention to lower the limit. I want every dollar of my taxes to go to pay the prevailing wage," another man said to Erpenbach.
The wage law changes in the state budget bill are tied to federal stimulus money in the form of grants, Erpenbach said
"The governor set the threshold to have some control over money going out of state," he said. Paying prevailing wage assures the public that the work is being done by skilled workers, he added.
"They are going to be fixing our school, fixing our bridges, they're all over the place," Erpenbach said. "There has to be a prevailing wage for public projects."
Erpenbach explained that while he generally favors the bill, he doesn't agree with the $2,000 threshold for projects which would require paying prevailing wages.
"The $2,000 threshold is not going to stay there. I'm in favor of setting the limit up to realistic numbers; $2,000 isn't too realistic, not workable," he said.
Currently, the prevailing wage, set by the state Department of Workforce Development (DWD), applies to one-trade projects costing more than $48,000 and $234,000 for multiple trades.
One Monroe contractor said small contractors need to be able to bid for small work projects.
"Most small businesses don't have time to fill out the paperwork. If it's a prevailing wage rate, none of them will bid on it," he said. "But I guarantee you, a union contractor will come - from Madison."
"If you want small contractors to bid on your stairway, you have to do something about this bill," he told Erpenbach and Davis.
Mayor Ron Marsh said the city also will have to fill out more paperwork, a task that takes about three hours for each project. The city expects prevailing wage jobs to jump from five a year to more than 80.
The room was roughly divided with city leaders and local contractors on one side of the room, and out-of-town union workers on the other.
Davis spoke in favor of removing the prevailing wage law from Assembly Bill 75, explaining that it would increasing construction costs and slow future business development, "making matters worse" in the economic conditions of the state.
Davis' main concern was prevailing wages being applied to private projects which received any government funding.
"For the first time, it is applicable to private projects, and those include any project Monroe is doing with TIF, BID or facade improvements," he said.
Union workers challenged Davis.
"Are you saying we should pay as little as possible to save money?" one asked.
Another union worker said under prevailing wages, workers receive benefits.
"Why don't people have some courtesy to (let them) retire with dignity?" he asked.
Davis said the prevailing wage law doesn't need to be changed to keep businesses competitive.
"In this economic climate, we don't want to be adding to businesses' cost," he responded. "We're trying to be competitive in a different economic climate."
Davis said the prevailing wage adds to the cost of projects.
"Some of these projects won't be able to move forward," he said. "As a taxpayer, I strongly support the intention to lower the limit. I want every dollar of my taxes to go to pay the prevailing wage," another man said to Erpenbach.
The wage law changes in the state budget bill are tied to federal stimulus money in the form of grants, Erpenbach said
"The governor set the threshold to have some control over money going out of state," he said. Paying prevailing wage assures the public that the work is being done by skilled workers, he added.
"They are going to be fixing our school, fixing our bridges, they're all over the place," Erpenbach said. "There has to be a prevailing wage for public projects."
Erpenbach explained that while he generally favors the bill, he doesn't agree with the $2,000 threshold for projects which would require paying prevailing wages.
"The $2,000 threshold is not going to stay there. I'm in favor of setting the limit up to realistic numbers; $2,000 isn't too realistic, not workable," he said.
Currently, the prevailing wage, set by the state Department of Workforce Development (DWD), applies to one-trade projects costing more than $48,000 and $234,000 for multiple trades.
One Monroe contractor said small contractors need to be able to bid for small work projects.
"Most small businesses don't have time to fill out the paperwork. If it's a prevailing wage rate, none of them will bid on it," he said. "But I guarantee you, a union contractor will come - from Madison."
"If you want small contractors to bid on your stairway, you have to do something about this bill," he told Erpenbach and Davis.
Mayor Ron Marsh said the city also will have to fill out more paperwork, a task that takes about three hours for each project. The city expects prevailing wage jobs to jump from five a year to more than 80.