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Tamarack mayor warns town could be bankrupt without $2M bonding for wastewater repairs
Summary
Tamarack officials described repeated permit violations, infiltration and failing collection infrastructure that have driven operating costs up and could force rate increases from $47 to $144 per month; they requested $2 million in bonding to avoid insolvency and protect public health.
Representative (transcript: 'Representative Michael') introduced a $2 million bonding request for Tamarack to repair critical wastewater infrastructure. Mayor John Cyrus described a system with repeated permit violations (testimony referenced "107 permit violations"), high infiltration into the collection system, failing grinder pumps and other equipment, and contract and maintenance costs that have surged, leaving the city at risk of insolvency within roughly two years without external support.
Cyrus said the community has a median household income substantially below the state average, a large share of low- and moderate-income households, and that raising sewer rates from the current $47 per month to $144 per month would be financially crushing for many residents. He and Representative Michael asked the committee to consider $2 million in state bonding to leverage additional federal and regional support and to fund critical upgrades and monitoring equipment required by regulators.
Committee time expired before questions; proponents were asked to follow up offline.
