Between 2015 and 2018, six U.S. states—Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia and Arkansas—each repealed their state prevailing-wage laws that established minimum labor standards on taxpayer-funded projects like roads, bridges, schools and water infrastructure. All did so promising to save money, including by “building five schools for the price of three.” The problem is: it never happened. As one Indiana Republican lawmaker put it, “we got rid of prevailing wage and, so far, it hasn’t saved us a penny.” His conclusions were ultimately confirmed by the Indiana Department of Labor. In Wisconsin, a study that examined highway projects pre- and post-repeal showed that the state not only failed to save money, but that it might have increased cost overruns. In West Virginia, the School Building Authority similarly concluded that prevailing-wage repeal was not saving taxpayers any money. The list goes on.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum-labor-organizing/illinois-prevailing-wage-law-stays-books