Posted: | December 3, 2020 03:28 PM |
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From: | Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill and Sen. Judy Ward |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Prevailing Wage Opt-Out due to COVID-19 |
In the near future we will reintroduce Senate Bill 1303 from last session that will grant Commonwealth school entities, municipalities, and government authorities the option to choose whether they wish to pursue a moratorium on the existing Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act requirements due to a significant decline in tax revenue from COVID-19. Unlike bills introduced in prior sessions which sought to prohibit the use of the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act by school districts, this legislation will simply give our local school leaders, municipal leaders, and governmental authorities a choice among many options including continuing adherence to the provisions of the Prevailing Wage Act. This optional moratorium would last until December 31, 2022 and would serve to help our local communities that have been struggling due to the governor’s complete shutdown of the Commonwealth back in March. Local elected officials serving in municipal, school leadership, and local government authorities are most cognizant of the needs and wishes of the residents and communities they represent. Among their important responsibilities is to provide sound fiscal stewardship of our limited taxpayer resources when building our local schools and municipal facilities. We should allow them the option to pursue construction projects based on the realities of these unprecedented times and based on the existing resources that they may or may not have. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. Previous co-sponsors of this legislation include Senators Arnold, Mastriano, and Stefano. |
Introduced as SB209