MITA testified this week that state budget fixes over the last three years are harming the future viability of clean water efforts in Michigan.
Keith Ledbetter testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on DEQ on April 4, 2007. In testimony, Ledbetter urged the Legislature to begin investing state general fund dollars once again into the State Revolving Fund.
From FY 1999 through FY 2004, state match funds were provided through general fund appropriations of $17.35 million per year.
Unfortunately, one of the cost-savings moves employed by the Legislature in recent years has been to get rid of the state general fund deposits to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and severely limit the general fund contributions to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The lost CWSRF money for the last three years equates to $39 million in lost lending capacity this year and $120 million over 20 years. The lack of general fund investment in the current year’s budget would equate immediately to $13 million of lost lending capacity and $42 million over the next 20 years.
A full transcript of the committee testimony can be found by clicking here.
For more information please contact Mike Nystrom, Vice President of Government & Public Relations at mikenystrom@mi-ita.com or Keith Ledbetter, Director of Legislative Affairs at keithledbetter@mi-ita.com, or call the MITA office at (517) 347-8336.
