The cost of the state’s day-to-day response to the Flint water crisis could soon rise sharply.
It cost of the state of Michigan $29,300 a day to provide water resources to Flint residents in May. But that number may nearly quadruple, to $117,400, if and when the federal government ends its support.
The federal government has been picking up roughly 75% of the cost of emergency supplies and home testing. The president’s federal emergency declaration is set to expire August 14.
“August 14 is just a date on the calendar, and as Governor Snyder has said, we will make decisions based on science, not arbitrary dates,” said Capt. Chris Kelenske, deputy state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the MSP/EMHSD. “Until the water meets quality standards, we will provide water supplies to Flint water system customers at the water resource sites.”
Officials say the state of Michigan will assume 100% of the cost after the federal declaration ends.
