LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Michele Hoitenga on Tuesday criticized a series of bills presented before a Senate panel to create a statewide income-based water affordability program funded through a new monthly fee on every water customer in the state.
“People shouldn’t be taxed, or forced to pay more, in order to subsidize other people’s water bills,” said Hoitenga, R-Manton. “Government mandates to further drive up already high costs of living are not the answers to reversing the devastating economic tolls that record inflation and Bidenomics have taken on struggling families, seniors and small businesses across our state. We cannot tax and fee Michiganders into prosperity.”
Senate Bills 549-554 are currently under consideration in the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services. According to the Senate Fiscal Agency analysis, the legislation would cost $90 million in the first 18 months.
The legislation would institute a fee to be paid by all water customers to fund the Low-Income Water Residential Affordability Program. The funds would then be used to pay off past-due water bills, subsidize lower water bill rates for low-income customers, and fix minor plumbing issues that contribute to higher water usage.
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