Connecticut House Bill HB05091

Connecticut 2011 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/6/11
• Refer: 1/6/11

Caption

An Act Increasing The Prevailing Wage Threshold For Municipal Public Works Projects.

Impact

If enacted, HB 05091 would specifically amend subsection (g) of section 31-53 of the general statutes. The change would mean that state prevailing wage requirements would no longer apply to municipal projects costing less than one million dollars. As the threshold will be indexed to inflation, it will be automatically adjusted annually, reflecting changes in economic conditions. This indexing aims to ensure that the threshold remains relevant over time, potentially shielding more municipal projects from stringent wage requirements.

Summary

House Bill 05091 proposes an increase to the prevailing wage threshold for municipal public works projects, raising it to a total cost of one million dollars. This bill seeks to exempt smaller projects from the prevailing wage requirements, thereby aiming to reduce labor costs for municipalities when engaging in construction and reconstruction activities that fall below this threshold. By adjusting this threshold, municipalities would have greater flexibility in managing their budgets and project scopes without the constraints imposed by the prevailing wage laws.

Contention

The bill has generated varying opinions among stakeholders. Proponents argue that increasing the wage threshold would alleviate financial pressure on municipalities, allowing them to allocate resources more efficiently to public infrastructure projects. On the other hand, critics may voice concerns that decreasing the scope of prevailing wage applicability could lead to lower wages and benefits for workers in the construction industry, potentially undermining the quality of labor and long-term job conditions. Therefore, discussions around HB 05091 may center around the balance between economic flexibility for municipalities and fair labor standards.