Last hurdle

Proposal boosts pay on construction deals with tax breaks, subsidies

Bill to hike rate of wages for construction projects getting government incentives has chance of being adopted.

A bill that would increase the rate of wages paid for construction projects receiving government incentives has a chance of being adopted before the state legislative session ends.

The measure, which was identified by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo as one of his top priorities, is the subject of behindthe-scenes negotiations for a compromise to get the state Senate on board.

If enacted in its current form, any construction projects that receive public subsidies or tax breaks would be required to pay minimum wages and benefits, which opponents say are artificially inflated and make certain project cost prohibitive.

Assemblyman Harry Bronson, a Rochester-area Democrat pushing the legislation, said the discussions are focused on addressing the effect of prevailing wage expansion on affordable

housing and renewable energy projects.

“We’re looking at certain situations where a certain project might be exempted,” Bronson said.

The measure has passed the Assembly multiple times and was included in the governor’s budget, but wasn’t part of the final fiscal deal approved by state lawmakers.

“The Senate is working on putting together a proposal that they can bring to the floor and pass,” Bronson said. “There has been some movement and we continue to have movement. I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

Sen. Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat sponsoring the legislation, would only confirm that proponents are doing their “best to engage all our stakeholders.”

Bronson said his preference is to pass the legislation as a stand-alone bill, but he acknowledged the political realities in Albany might make it easier for the Senate to act if it was part of a big package.

“If it needs to be in the ‘Big Ugly,’ I can live with that,” Bronson said.

The legislative push is being opposed by a statewide coalition that includes representatives from the business, real estate, construction and nonprofit sector, including the Capital Region Chamber. They argue the mandate will hinder private construction projects by making them prohibitively expensive.