The prevailing wage elimination bill is not the answer to solving construction costs in Delaware. Prevailing wage assures contractors bid using the same wage scales so that out-of-state, low-wage, less-qualified contractors can’t underbid local, in-state, qualified candidates.
A better way to use taxpayer money would be to give local, in-state contractors an advantage in the bid process. This would help to keep good-paying construction jobs in the state. This returns revenue back to the state paid by contractors’ employees on and off the job site. Local workers tend to spend locally. Out-of-state contractors take Delaware tax revenues back home and spend it there.
The best way to get the best return on investment for the taxpayer is to keep good-paying jobs in Delaware for workers in Delaware.