district) or EZ because the labor costs were too expensive," he added.
Maisch says that although organized labor is touting SB 43 as a good measure toward ensuring fair pay and quality projects in Illinois, the reality could be the opposite.
"Unfortunately, what they don't see is that there are going to be fewer projects around for them (labor) to work on," Maisch said.
Another amendment has been filed to address business' concerns; it exempts businesses who were already located in an area that later became a TIF or EZ. Maisch says the amendment doesn't go far enough.
"Enterprise zones are increasingly being used as an incentive for wind farms and other large projects that Illinois attracts," he said.
Walter Denton, city administrator in O'Fallon and president of the Southwestern Illinois City and County Managers' Association, questions why the General Assembly would support a bill that works in opposition to incentives already in place that help keep Illinois on the site location short list to attract new industry.
"From our point of view, we can't understand why a business would be interested in locating within an enterprise zone under these constraints," Denton said. "Where's the deal? How do you attract a business if you have to tell them, 'We're in an enterprise zone, but you have to pay prevailing wage forever.'"
O'Fallon recently decided to postpone the expansion of the MidAmerica Enterprise Zone and wait and see what happens to Clayborne's bill.
Clayborne did not return phone calls in conjunction with SB 43.
president/ceo: Kerry L. Smith
email: ksmith@ibjonline.com
|
