A San Diego Superior Court judge issued a tentative ruling Wednesday upholding a bipartisan law designed to encourage more of California’s charter cities to pay prevailing wages on locally funded construction projects.
A half-dozen cities — El Cajon, Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, Fresno and El Centro — filed the lawsuit contesting the law earlier this year.
SB 7, which took effect in January, grants charter cities state construction funds only if they comply with prevailing wage provisions on all of their public works projects.
The law excludes contracts for projects of $25,000 or less for construction work, or projects of $15,000 or less for alteration, demolition, repair or maintenance work.
Wednesday’s ruling — handed down by Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil — is expected to be appealed.
— City News Service