Pictured at the Oakland County Board of Commissioners meeting February 7 are (left to right) Oakland County Commissioner Charlie Cavell, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, and Commissioner Gwen Markham.
(Photo courtesy of Oakland County Board of Commissioners)
(Photo courtesy of Oakland County Board of Commissioners)
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners recently adopted a resolution in support of a groundbreaking package of statewide water affordability bills. Senate Bills 0549-0551 and House Bills 5088-5090 aim to create a first-in-the-nation program to ensure access to affordable water services for low-income Michigan households.
These bills are designed to provide relief to those eligible by capping water service payments at an average of 3% of their household income, offering arrearage forgiveness and preventing water service shutoffs for critical care customers through the proposed Water Shutoff Protection Act. Additionally, the bill package proposes a low-income water affordability fund within the Michigan Department of Treasury, supported by a $2 monthly bill charge.
“We need to ensure every household in Oakland County and the state of Michigan can have sustainable water and sewer services,” said Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash. “This legislation is pivotal in addressing the immediate needs of low-income households and aiding water service providers.”
In 2021, Nash and his team conducted a nearly two-year study to address increasing challenges related to keeping the costs of water affordable for households without impacting the financial needs of providers to properly operate and maintain water and sewer systems. The findings validated the need for a statewide solution and led to their selection by Senator Stephanie Chang to participate in a stakeholder workgroup that developed the water affordability bill package.
“I am grateful to Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chair Woodward, Commissioner Cavell, and Water Resources Commissioner Nash for their leadership and partnership on water affordability,” said Senator Stephanie Chang. “With the Oakland County Commission’s passage of a resolution in support of water affordability legislation, it’s clear that more and more leaders across this region recognize that we need to address this critical issue with urgency and on a statewide basis. Too many Michiganders are struggling to make ends meet, and our water affordability legislation will finally ensure that every person, regardless of how much money they have or where they live in the state, has access to affordable water.”
While existing water affordability programs, like the Water Residential Assistance Program offered by the Great Lakes Water Authority, can offer financial relief for two years to eligible residents, it is only temporary. As water service costs continue to rise, current programs can exhaust their funding, leaving struggling customers to face potential water shutoffs, foreclosure, harm to personal health and other consequences.
The inability to afford water services also directly impacts the financial health of water utilities. When water service providers have uncollected or delayed revenue coupled with increased operation and maintenance costs, properly investing into infrastructure is at risk, which ultimately impacts public health.
“Affordable water for everyone is a moral imperative, and fully funded water systems pay for important infrastructure and keep our water safe,” said Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chair David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak). “This legislation accomplishes both. Oakland County is ready to do all we can to fix this problem once and for all.”
The Board of Commissioners’ attention to these bills emphasizes the critical importance of ensuring access to affordable water services, highlighting the need for comprehensive and long-lasting solutions.
To learn more about the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office, visit oakgov.com/water.
These bills are designed to provide relief to those eligible by capping water service payments at an average of 3% of their household income, offering arrearage forgiveness and preventing water service shutoffs for critical care customers through the proposed Water Shutoff Protection Act. Additionally, the bill package proposes a low-income water affordability fund within the Michigan Department of Treasury, supported by a $2 monthly bill charge.
“We need to ensure every household in Oakland County and the state of Michigan can have sustainable water and sewer services,” said Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash. “This legislation is pivotal in addressing the immediate needs of low-income households and aiding water service providers.”
In 2021, Nash and his team conducted a nearly two-year study to address increasing challenges related to keeping the costs of water affordable for households without impacting the financial needs of providers to properly operate and maintain water and sewer systems. The findings validated the need for a statewide solution and led to their selection by Senator Stephanie Chang to participate in a stakeholder workgroup that developed the water affordability bill package.
“I am grateful to Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chair Woodward, Commissioner Cavell, and Water Resources Commissioner Nash for their leadership and partnership on water affordability,” said Senator Stephanie Chang. “With the Oakland County Commission’s passage of a resolution in support of water affordability legislation, it’s clear that more and more leaders across this region recognize that we need to address this critical issue with urgency and on a statewide basis. Too many Michiganders are struggling to make ends meet, and our water affordability legislation will finally ensure that every person, regardless of how much money they have or where they live in the state, has access to affordable water.”
While existing water affordability programs, like the Water Residential Assistance Program offered by the Great Lakes Water Authority, can offer financial relief for two years to eligible residents, it is only temporary. As water service costs continue to rise, current programs can exhaust their funding, leaving struggling customers to face potential water shutoffs, foreclosure, harm to personal health and other consequences.
The inability to afford water services also directly impacts the financial health of water utilities. When water service providers have uncollected or delayed revenue coupled with increased operation and maintenance costs, properly investing into infrastructure is at risk, which ultimately impacts public health.
“Affordable water for everyone is a moral imperative, and fully funded water systems pay for important infrastructure and keep our water safe,” said Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chair David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak). “This legislation accomplishes both. Oakland County is ready to do all we can to fix this problem once and for all.”
The Board of Commissioners’ attention to these bills emphasizes the critical importance of ensuring access to affordable water services, highlighting the need for comprehensive and long-lasting solutions.
To learn more about the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office, visit oakgov.com/water.
