Michigan State Capitol Building | Photo by Jon King
In a brief meeting lasting less than five minutes, members of the Senate Labor Committee voted forward two bills centered on prevailing wage and minimum staffing levels for police and fire departments.
The four-member committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 54, which would exempt projects from prevailing wage projects if they were paid for using a bond or bond proposal approved before the state reinstated prevailing wage requirements for publicly funded construction projects.
Three of the four members voted to approve Senate Bill 319, with the committee’s sole Republican member, Sen. Thomas Albert of Lowell, voting against the policy.
The bill would make staffing levels a mandatory subject amid collective bargaining discussions with police and fire departments. However, if a municipality collected less sales tax and property tax revenue than the previous fiscal year, those discussions are voluntary, rather than required.
While the bill received support from the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union and the Police Officers Association of Michigan during the committee’s previous meeting, the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, alongside several local government groups and local officials, stood opposed to the policy.
The Michigan Municipal League cited concerns about the policy’s long term cost, arguing the exemption does not paint an accurate picture of a locality’s funds.
“Contracts are typically multi-year agreements. To take a single look in the year you happen to be negotiating would be fiscally irresponsible. This lookback would not accurately reflect the costs associated with staffing or other contractual costs. …It is an oversimplification and fails to address inflationary trends, contractual raises, health care costs, and the numerous other community expenses,” the League’s Legislative Associate Dave Hodgkins wrote in a letter to the committee.
Both bills await further consideration on the Senate floor.
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