Montana Attorney General Opinion 16-228

Opinion No. 228. State Highway Commission-High- ways-Contractors-Labor-Wages. HELD: Contracts for state high- way construction, repair and main- tenance work must contain a provi- sion that the contractor must pay the standard prevailing wages paid in the county seat of the county in which the work is being performed. January 11, 1936. State Highway Commission The Capitol We are returning herewith four- teen contracts which you have sub- mitted to this office for approval. In all of these contracts it is pro- vided: "In the performance of this contract, the contractor will be re- quired to pay a minimum wage rate of $0.60 per hour for unskilled labor, a minimum wage rate of $0.75 per hour for the lowest classification of intermediate grade labor, with the higher minimum wage rates for the higher classifications of intermediate grade labor and a minimum wage rate of $1.00 per hour for skilled labor, all as described fully in the special provi- sions for this project." Chapter 102, Laws of Montana, 1931, makes it necessary to insert, in all contracts for state construction, repair and maintenance work, a pro- vision by which the contractor must pay the standard prevailing rate of wages in effect as paid in the county seat of the county in which the work is being performed. ~ Until this statutory requirement is inserted in these contracts we may not approve them.