The state’s financial standing has given lawmakers the opportunity to initiate new initiatives, albeit sometimes debated as to where monies are appropriated. Legislation to establish the water and wastewater program got consensus backing. Mount Vernon GOP Representative Josh Bray said it will give financially struggling water districts access to capital while addressing pervasive sewer problems.
“If you’ve got a sewer district that overflows every time it rains, there could be considerable amounts of fines levied against it, it would provide a waiver for a better run utility to come in and acquire that provided they fix the issue, it would forgive all of that,” said Bray.
