Walmart has rebuilt and design firms are working on several replacement schools, but a recent hike in federally mandated construction wages could hamper efforts to construct low-income housing and other publicly funded projects in tornado-ravaged Joplin, Mo., some state and local officials say.
Local contractors say the prevailing-wage rate for public-works projects has in some cases nearly tripled—to $21.47 per hour from $7.98 an hour—for area carpenters, who receive $12.65 in fringe benefits, for a total of $34.12 an hour.