FLINT (WJRT) - (2/26/16) - $30 million is coming to Flint after Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation to address concerns about people paying for lead-tainted water they couldn't safely use.
The bill signing ceremony happened at Flint's Riverfront Banquet Center.
Snyder called the move an exciting step forward in addressing the city's water emergency.
Jody Lundquist, Flint's chief financial officer, said credits could start showing up on peoples' bills as early as next month.
"This is to again give relief to the city of Flint for water that they shouldn't have to pay for," Snyder said. "It will also help the financial stability of Flint and the water system. This isn't the end of anything. This is just one more step as we take steps every single day to make Flint a better place across the board."
The credit of up to 65 percent would cover the water portion of residential customers combined water and sewer bills. Customers would still be responsible for all sewer costs. Water service fees are not covered under the deal.
Business customers can expect to see an up to 20 percent credit on the water portion of their bills.
"We did an analysis to say, if you look at the human consumption of the water that people use, it's about half, and we rounded up to 65 percent to say, 'Let's be safe,'" Snyder said.
Lundquist said the city anticipates the credits to start appearing on peoples' bills in approximately three weeks. She said significant programming changes need to take place to handle the 67,000 accounts.
The state's department of treasury and others will be working alongside the city.
As for those who stopped paying their water and sewer bills, "We want to give them the benefit of the credit, but we also want to be clear that this is to cover that 65 percent of the water piece," Snyder said. "If they haven't been paying their sewer bill, let's talk about a sewer plan so they can get caught up."
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver wasn't at Friday's bill signing. ABC12 caught up with her at another event on Friday.
"I was glad that it was signed," Weaver said. "One of the things I've always said is it's a first step. We know we need some more."
The city of Flint said they'll be releasing more detailed information to the public in the coming weeks.
