House Appropriations Subcommittee Hears Wide Range of LDSI Requests for Water, Sewer, Flood and Safety Projects

LANSING — The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Economic Opportunity spent a full session taking testimony on dozens of local infrastructure requests tied to legislatively directed spending, with officials from small towns, counties and authorities seeking state help for looming public‑health and safety risks.

The largest single request came from Rep. Begole for the City of Owosso, which is asking for $15 million to replace three nitrification towers at the city’s wastewater treatment facility. “If they fail, it’s gonna put 6,000,000 gallons of sewage into the river,” Rep. Begole told the subcommittee, warning that the system is strained and that local ratepayers face an estimated 108% bill increase without state assistance.

Why it matters: committee members repeatedly framed the hearing around avoiding environmental damage and steep local rate increases. Across the room, presenters tied sewer and water projects to river health, tourism and local economies — arguments that surfaced in requests from Port Huron, Portland, Erie Township and several northern and rural communities.

Other major requests and details

- Portland: City leaders requested $9.2 million to finish shovel‑ready wastewater plant enhancements ($4.1M), install three aging lift stations ($1.5M) and complete sewer‑line work ($3.6M). Andrew Jemczyk, Portland’s city…