Cities lose ‘prevailing wage’ case

[unhappycamper]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/aug/28/prevailing-wage-lawsuit-cities/



Oceanside's deputy mayor says the city saved money on a harbor aquatic center by avoiding having to pay the prevailing wage.

Cities lose ‘prevailing wage’ case
By Mark Walker
2:45 p.m.Aug. 28, 2014 Updated4:39 p.m.

An attempt by several cities to overturn a state law that forces them to choose between paying generally higher or “prevailing” wages on most public works projects or lose state construction dollars has been turned aside in a tentative court ruling.

San Diego County Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil rejected arguments from the cities of Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad and El Cajon that the requirement violates the state constitution. The municipalities argued that local tax proceeds used on public construction projects in their jurisdictions aren’t subject to state restriction.

Wohlfeil issued his tentative decision on Wednesday and heard more argument Thursday but did not declare his decision final.

At question is a state law that requires charter cities to pay prevailing wage on all public works projects regardless of the source of funding beginning Jan. 1 of next year. Refusing to do would mean most but not all state construction dollars for local projects would be forfeited.