95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Group rallies for water bill aid from state

A demonstrator at the state Capitol says high bills from the Great Lakes Water Authority could force her out of her Highland Park home without state intervention
MPRN
A demonstrator at the state Capitol says high bills from the Great Lakes Water Authority could force her out of her Highland Park home without state intervention

Highland Park residents say the state forced excessive water and sewerage bills onto them by forcing the Detroit enclave to join the Great Lakes Water Authority.

A group from Highland Park showed up at the state Capitol Thursday to demand assistance to erase millions of dollars in water and sewer service debt.

The Detroit enclave has fewer than 9,000 residents, a poverty rate around 40 %, and a giant past-due bill from the state-created Great Lakes Water Authority. Highland Park owes the authority $24 million dollars plus interest.

Highland Park residents say that cost will be passed along to utility customers who can’t afford it.

A legal challenge went up to the Michigan Supreme Court, which refused to hear the case. Last April, the Highland Park city council also asked the state for permission to file for bankruptcy protection.

Democratic House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) told Michigan Public Radio there are discussions underway that could include bailout funding in the next state budget.

“We just had our fiscal year budget come online and we still kind of have to work through,” he said.

The state’s new budget will take effect with the start of the fiscal year on October 1.

Related Content