Snyder requests $48.8M more for crisis-stricken Flint
Lansing — Gov. Rick Snyder proposed Wednesday an additional nearly $49 million in state aid for still-recovering Flint after lead tainted its water supply and spurred a public health crisis.
Snyder called for the extra money during his annual budget presentation to state lawmakers, where his office recommends how the state divvies up a $56.3 billion annual budget.
The Republican second-term governor said he would like to set aside $25 million of the $48.8 million for Flint as a “reserve” fund for the struggling city at a time when residents are still urged to drink bottled or filtered water. Testing has shown lead-in-water levels meet federal standards, but state officials have not given the OK for residents to resume drinking the tap water unfiltered.
The Flint aid will ensure the city can continue existing programs for the new year starting in October, Snyder said at a later news conference. It would help pay for water filter cartridges, technical assistance, early childhood services, school nurses and food assistance, he said.
“It’s really a continuation of many of the programs we’ve had going,” Snyder said.
The $25 million proposed Flint reserve fund could be used to cover pipe replacement, among other things, said Budget Director Al Pscholka.
“I’m pleased that Gov. Snyder recognizes the large amount of work that still must be done in order for Flint and its residents to fully recover from the city’s drinking water system being poisoned by lead through no fault of their own,” Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said in a statement.
Weaver stressed that Flint “still has lead-tainted service lines leading to 20,000 homes that need to be replaced and a water treatment and delivery system that must be completely overhauled, and we need more jobs. We hope these important building blocks in Flint’s recovery are not forgotten.”
But Snyder made it clear during his budget address that the $25 million reserve fund might not necessarily be used in full.
“Understanding that there’s still some unknowns out there, ... we’ve asked for a significant reserve,” Snyder said.
Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, said he intends to pressure Snyder to let the full $48.8 million go to Flint.
“Today the governor stated that he plans to allocate nearly $49 million to Flint, and I intend to hold him accountable to that promise,” Ananich said in a statement. “While that number certainly isn’t enough to address all of the infrastructure and health problems caused by the water crisis, we need every resource available in order to get back on our feet.”
The state has appropriated $253.3 million over two years for educational, nutrition and health care aid in addition to water supplies and funding to start replacing some of the lead service lines.
The Legislature would still have to approve Snyder’s proposal before it went into effect. But if lawmakers approve Snyder’s Flint funding request, it would bring the state’s total aid to $300 million.
Flint’s water supply was tainted with lead after state officials failed to require that the city apply federally required corrosion control chemicals. The failure allowed corrosive river water to leach lead from the city’s aging pipes into the water supply after the city switched from the Detroit water system to the Flint River as its municipal water source in April 2014.
Snyder also called for another $6.8 million to help pay for drinking water quality programs across the state, including lead prevention efforts, according to the governor’s office.
Snyder recommended another $3 million to match the federal Drinking Water Revolving Fund, an extra $4.5 million for statewide school drinking water quality programs and another $4.9 million to pay for an air quality program to protect against dangerous vapor intrusion near individuals’ homes.
The state is also expecting to receive about $120 million in federal aid for Flint after Congress late last year approved a Flint-inspired water infrastructure package.
mgerstein@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @MikeGerstein