|
 Kurt Weiss said that Budget Director John Roberts expects to ask
the legislature this month for an appropriation to help Flint with
short-term costs related to the city's lead-contaminated drinking
water.
The financially strapped city was under the control of a
state-appointed emergency manager when it switched its source of tap
water to the nearby Flint River in April 2014 from Detroit's water
system to save money.
Flint, about 60 miles (100 km) northwest of Detroit, returned to
using Detroit water in October after tests found some children had
elevated levels of lead in their blood and lead was found in
higher-than-acceptable levels in the water.
 Lead levels were still "well above" the acceptable federal level in
many homes, city officials said last month. Governor Rick Snyder
this week sent the Michigan National Guard to distribute bottled
water and other supplies to residents.
Flint residents left with bills for water declared undrinkable due
to lead contamination filed a lawsuit in state court on Jan. 7
against Snyder, the state, the city and other officials.
The lawsuit filed in Genesee County court, which includes Flint,
seeks class action status covering all residents. Other Flint
residents late last year filed a federal lawsuit accusing the city
and state of endangering their health.
[to top of second column] |
Michigan's plan for funding Flint's water-related costs came as
state officials set revenue estimates for the current and next
fiscal years. For fiscal 2016, which began on Oct. 1, the estimate
for the state's general and school funds was set at $22 billion,
$149 million lower than a projection made in May. Fiscal 2017
revenue was pegged at $22.7 billion.
(Reporting By Karen Pierog; additional reporting by David Bailey and
Suzannah Gonzales; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
