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Committee approves wide-ranging water-provider bill after hours of debate over governance and rates
Summary
Senate Bill 481, backed by an 18-month task force, passed the City, County & Local Affairs Committee after hours of testimony; the bill mandates five-year rate studies, training requirements, monitoring of fiscally distressed utilities and creates a process for limited county representation on water commissions tied to thresholds of customers served outside city limits.
The City, County & Local Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 481 after a lengthy hearing marked by extensive testimony from municipal leaders, water managers and providers.
Senator Vincent Clark, who shepherded the task force behind the bill, told the committee the package addresses political, fiscal and training problems that the task force identified and that the bill requires periodic rate studies (with implementation timelines), training for board members, and monitoring and assistance for utilities in fiscal distress. Clark said the task force’s work was collaborative and that its report reflected many stakeholders’ input.
Jack Critcher of the Arkansas Municipal League told the committee his organization supports most of the bill’s…
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