Some Macomb Co. communities balk at proposed water affordability program - Detroit News

Some Macomb Co. communities balk at proposed water affordability program
Anne Snabes

Proposed legislation that would create a statewide water affordability program is drawing backlash from several Macomb County communities who worry it will raise rates for all users and say another program already exists to help those in need.

Officials in at least three communities ― Clinton Township, Macomb Township and St. Clair Shores — have passed resolutions opposing a package of bills now working through Lansing that would create a low-income water residential affordability program within the state's Department of Health and Human Services.

The program would ensure that water bills do not exceed 3% of a household's income, with tiers developed for lower thresholds based on the federal poverty limit. Eligible customers would be households who earn up to 200% of the federal poverty limit or are receiving certain other kinds of state or federal assistance.

But officials in Macomb Township and Clinton Township argue the legislation would raise water costs for their residents and say they already have access to a regional affordability program through the Great Lakes Water Authority.

“I don’t think we need to take more money out of our residents’ pockets to pay for other people’s water bill ― we are doing enough,” Township Supervisor Bob Cannon said.

Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller said the county can't even spent the funds it has now in GLWA's Water Residential Assistance Program, or WRAP.

But State Sen. Stephanie Chang of Detroit, meanwhile, said inaccurate information is circulating about the legislation, of which she is a sponsor. She said the proposed water affordability program would actually subsidize the program already in place through the GLWA.

Creating a water affordability program is not only good for people who are low-income, who are struggling to pay their bills, "but also good for our water providers in the long-term as well, which is why they’re supportive of these bills,” she said, “because they recognize that not only is it the right thing to do for their customers, but also because it helps with their financial stability.”

Why Macomb Township is against the legislation

The Macomb Township Board of Trustees passed its resolution in a 7-0 vote on Dec. 20.

"The last thing we need is Lansing to impose” a rate increase on Macomb Township residents, said Macomb County Treasurer Leon Drolet.

Macomb Township is part of the Great Lakes Water Authority, which provides nearly 40% of the state’s population with water, according to the authority’s website. GLWA's Water Residential Assistance Program is specifically for low-income households.

Miller said she's spoken with some of the legislation's sponsors and shared the opposition that exists.

“Listen, I understand that there are people that have issues with their ability to afford their water and sewer,” she told The News. “I totally get it. And I think we are a compassionate society.”

But all ratepayers in the Great Lakes Water Authority are already paying a percentage of their bill to the WRAP program. She also said Macomb County has never used all of its funds in the WRAP program.

Clinton Township on WRAP program

The Clinton Township Board of Trustees said the Great Lakes Water Authority’s WRAP program has “been very successful.”

Township Trustee Julie Matuzak objected to language in Clinton Township’s resolution that said the state bills would “redistribute money from hard working Clinton Township residents to distant beneficiaries, calling it "highly" offensive. The board decided to remove that phrase from its resolution.

Matuzak voted in favor of the resolution. She told The News that Clinton Township already has a water assistance program ― WRAP ― that “does seem to be working.”

“I’m generally opposed to duplicating services and adding another layer of bureaucracy to anything,” she said, adding that it “costs taxpayers money.”

Chang defends the legislation

Chang, however, said the Great Lakes Water Authority won’t be able to sustain the WRAP program beyond a couple of years, because there are numerous seniors and individuals with disabilities who will be part of the program in perpetuity. She said the state program will essentially subsidize GLWA, allowing it to keep running the WRAP program.

Miller disagreed with Chang’s assertion that WRAP isn’t sustainable, saying she is “dead wrong.”

“As I say, we can’t even spend what we already collect” in Macomb County, she said.

In a 5-1 vote, the board of directors of the Great Lakes Water Authority passed a resolution in November expressing its support of the state legislation.

“Funding for the Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) is included in GLWA’s annual budget at 0.5% (one-half of one percent) which provides approximately $4.3 million in funding for this fiscal year,” Nicolette N. Bateson, GLWA chief financial officer and treasurer, said in a statement. “While this funding is significant, it is not sufficient to meet the level of increasing need throughout the GLWA service area.”

Chang said it’s possible that people’s water rates may actually go down. She said rates go up when water providers have to cover many households’ water debt. The state program would take care of people’s arrearages for water bills and get them “on a bill they could actually afford,” she said.

asnabes@detroitnews.com