Coachella Valley cities to start paying union-level wages

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2014/12/07/coachella-valley-prevailing-wage/20064845/

Xochitl Peña, The Desert Sun 3:26 p.m. PST December 7, 2014

To avoid losing out on millions in state funding, most Coachella Valley cities will start paying union level wages for certain public work projects starting Jan. 1, as required by state law.

“It’s going to cost most cities that have a lot of public work projects … a lot of money,” said Steve Quintanilla, city attorney for Desert Hot Springs and Rancho Mirage.

In Rancho Mirage and La Quinta, the change is anticipated to cost up to $300,000 extra a year in general fund expenses.

The requirement under Senate Bill 7 only affects the charter cities of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta and Indian Wells. Indio, Coachella and Cathedral City are general law cities and already comply with state law.

FULL story at link.



Jose Ramos landscapes around the perimeter of the La Quinta Park Monday, July 30th, 2012.
(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)