FLINT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The city of Flint is considering adopting a prevailing wage policy that would give preferential hiring status to city contractors who pay their workers a higher rate of pay.

The city’s Finance Committee approved a resolution May 7 that recommended that the City of Flint adopt prevailing wage hiring practices.

MORE NEWS: 582 Convicted Killers Could Be Re-Sentenced in Michigan

In March 2023, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer restored a law that mandated prevailing wage must be abided by for all state of Michigan projects.

“Providing prevailing wages and benefits can stabilize the local workforce and enhance a community because of the increased compensation,” the city of Flint Finance Committee resolution stated.

Prevailing wages are minimum pay that is set by the Department of Labor and is often times based on higher union-negotiated rates. There have been numerous studies on the pros and cons of prevailing wage laws. Michael Hicks, a Ball State University economist, did a 2023 report that found prevailing wage laws increased the cost of road construction in the U.S. by as much as 14.3%.