ABC of Michigan News Releases

Lansing, Mich. – Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan (ABC) August 5 commended the Livingston County Board of Commissioners for an August 4 decision repealing a job-killing prevailing wage mandate on county-funded construction projects.

“Livingston County commissioners have chosen to stand up for public accountability and affordability in construction,” noted Chris Fisher, ABC of Michigan President & CEO. “Livingston County taxpayers now have a more competitive construction market, and that in turn will create more jobs and opportunities in Livingston County.”

Michigan prevailing wage calculations exclusively mirror union agreements regardless of whether the workers on the job belong to a union, ignoring the fact that only 18 percent of construction workers chose to belong to a union in Michigan. Prevailing wage mandates typically inflate the cost of construction labor by 40-60 percent more than the already-high market wage.  ABC encouraged the Livingston County Board to repeal the local mandate, pointing to studies that indicate prevailing wage increases costs unreasonably, infringes upon the integrity of the competitive bidding process, and denies taxpayers the fiscal accountability they deserve.

“We look forward to continuing to see growth in Livingston County now that the costly prevailing wage mandate has been removed,” commented Fisher.

Livingston County now joins a super-majority of Michigan counties who do not have a prevailing wage mandate.

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ABC of Michigan is a statewide trade association representing the commercial and industrial construction industries. Dedicated to open competition, equal opportunity and accountability in construction, ABC members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, profitably and for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work.