DALLAS – Flint, Michigan and its utility customers are on the verge of losing water credits that offered more than $40 million in payment relief to help cover city water payments as it recovered from it water contamination crisis.
On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Snyder reiterated his intent to stop the state water relief credits at the end of the month. The credit covers 20% of commercial water bill accounts and 65% for residential. The state also will end its $1.2 million in monthly funding assistance that helped the city cover its payments to the Great Lakes Water Authority which is currently providing city water.
"The commitment from state lawmakers and me to the city was to reimburse for water used when the city's water quality did not meet federal standards, and we have kept our word to [Flint] Mayor [Karen] Weaver and Flint residents," Snyder said.
Weaver said that she was disappointed with Snyder's decision. "We were hoping this assistance would remain in place until at least March 31, so we thought we had more time to prepare," said Weaver.
Snyder's decision to halt the credits is based on the latest six-month cycle of water testing with results below the federal action level for the Lead and Copper Rule; the state cites the results as reason for discontinuing the credits.
Weaver however disagreed with the state's assessment and met with Snyder on Tuesday to discuss delaying the stop in water credit until Flint's water is deemed safe enough to drink without a water filter.
"This decision is disappointing, since it was the actions by state government that created this crisis," said US Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint in a press statement last week. "This crisis is not over. The city still today must buy usable water from other communities instead of treating its own water at the city plant. This is because of decisions by unelected emergency managers that got the city into this emergency in the first place."
Snyder has recommended an additional investment of $48.8 million dollars for the upcoming fiscal year, on top of the $247 million already appropriated for the city.
Flint's water crisis began after the city, under oversight of an emergency manager appointed by Snyder, broke off from the Detroit Water and Sewerage System in 2014 after its contract to receive Detroit-supplied water ended.
The city began pulling water from the Flint River with the intent of using it until it switched to the Karegnondi Water Authority. The $285 million pipeline from Lake Huron is set to service Flint and most Genesee County communities.
Flint River water was not property treated and it corroded pipes throughout the system, creating lead contamination that remained even after the city switched back to Detroit water.
Last December, four former city officials including two former emergency managers were charged with skirting state law to push Flint into backing a portion of the bond issue. Flint is a contractually obligated participant in the pipeline, which is expected to begin delivering water in October. Flint has pledged to repay about 34% of the $220 million 2014 issue and Genesee County is on the hook for the remainder.
Flint spokeswoman Kristin Moore said a decision on when it will begin drawing water from the pipeline will be made soon.
