White believes the rate increase could backfire on builders if developers scale back or mothball projects due to prohibitive costs. "This not only affects housing and schools but potentially hospitals, roads and other public projects," he says.

Wilson contends that, prior to the increase, prevailing wages for Joplin were "artificially low" because they did not account for increases that trades have accrued since 1990.

"To say that exempting projects from the prevailing wage will net a 20% to 30% reduction in project costs is a fantasy, given that labor already accounts for 20% of construction costs," Wilson says.