Client Alerts & Insights
Ohio GOP Bill Would Give Counties, Cities Option on Paying Prevailing Wages
February 28, 2017
Authored By:
Ohio’s counties and cities would have the ability to decide whether they want to pay state-mandated prevailing wages on taxpayer-funded projects, or allow contractors to bid on projects without such requirements, under a bill expected to be introduced in the General Assembly this week.
State Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima), who is sponsoring the bill, said that local governments could save money by paying market-rate wages rather than the prevailing wage, which is set by the Ohio Commerce Director and establishes the minimum hourly wage as well as benefits that workers may be paid, based on their trade and the location of the job.
“Each of the local jurisdictions should be able to decide what they pay for what they’re going to get,” Huffman told cleveland.com. “When the city of Lima goes to buy paper products, they don’t have to pay what the city of Cincinnati pays. They pay what the market bears.”
Union representatives have said that, without the prevailing wage, construction workers would earn 16 percent less on average. They also said that the prevailing wage, which local governments have been required to pay for most projects since 1931, takes into account local economic forces. For instance, a plumber in Cuyahoga County should earn $34.90 an hour while a plumber in Hamilton County should earn $30.30 an hour.
This proposal may be the first step in the GOP’s strategy to pass a right-to-work bill in Ohio (see “Right-to-Work” Momentum Building in 2017). Kentucky recently joined Michigan and Indiana in outlawing workplace rules and collective bargaining agreements that require private-sector employees to pay fees or dues even if they do not belong to the union.
In any event, Huffman stressed that his bill would not require local governments to pay market-rate wages but only give them a choice in the matter. That is something they have not had since 1931.
If you have any questions on this topic please contact a member of our Labor & Employment Practice Group.
Peter Kirsanow at pkirsanow@beneschlaw.com or 216.363.4481.
Rick Hepp at rhepp@beneschlaw.com or 216.363.4657
Latest News
Medical First, Recreational Later? DOJ’s Cannabis Order and the Stakes Ahead
DOJ’s April 2026 order immediately moved FDA-approved and state-licensed medical cannabis to Schedule III, removing harsh tax penalties for medical operators, while leaving adult-use cannabis under stricter Schedule I controls pending further administrative review.
New Sentencing Guidelines for Economic Crimes Effective November 1, 2026
In March we reported on the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s proposed amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines (the “Guidelines”). On April 16, 2026, the bipartisan United States Sentencing Commission (the “Commission”) voted unanimously to adopt that package of amendments, without modification.
Judicial Green Light: Court Upholds NLRB’s Cemex Decision
On April 21st, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the National Labor Relations Board’s (“NLRB”) decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC., reinforcing a significant shift in federal labor law governing union recognition and employer conduct during organizing campaigns.
The LEAD Model—Kidney Care’s Value-Based Care Journey LEADs Here
The new LEAD Model, launching in 2027, is CMS’s next-generation value-based care framework for kidney care, integrating CKD and ESRD patients into standard ACOs with a 10-year benchmark period, new payment options and greater flexibility for nephrology-led organizations.