Legislator highlights local funding for Owosso Wastewater infrastructure

State Rep. Brian BeGole today voted for a House budget plan that provides critical resources for communities across the area, invests in the priorities of Michigan families and continues a commitment to responsible government spending.

BeGole specifically fought for $15 million within the budget plan for nitrification tower replacement at the Owosso Wastewater Treatment Plant. When making the budget request, BeGole noted the three failing towers at the facility are the backbone of its biological treatment process and essential for removing ammonia and other nitrogen compounds before treated water is discharged into the Shiawassee River.

The towers were originally installed 40 years ago and are in a state of structural degradation. BeGole said the project would help roughly one-third of his House district that relies on the plant, and that funding would alleviate higher rates on residents to pay for the replacement.

“If the towers were to fully fail, we are looking at significant public health and environmental risks for the area,” said BeGole, of Antrim Township. “I’m pleased to see this funding in the plan that advanced through the House. This is a critical investment for residents and job providers in the greater Owosso area and Shiawassee County.”

Overall, the House’s budget plan saves taxpayers by reducing state general fund spending by nearly $600 million, while protecting the state’s rainy-day fund and preventing new taxes or fees. In contrast, the governor’s budget recommendation includes $800 million in tax and fee increases and pulls $400 million from state savings to support spending.

“House Republicans paved the way last year for a budget provided people with a good return on their tax dollars,” BeGole said. “We cracked down on corporate giveaways and delivered transparency on pet project spending. We eliminated thousands of ghost employees and positions that were funded by taxpayers but never filled. We evaluated real dollar amounts in the budget by looking at actual spending and deciding how much programs and departments need, not blindly giving them an increase over whatever they got on a spreadsheet the previous year. This was all factored in to deliver a more responsible state budget and a more accountable state government. We’ve done that again with this plan.”

BeGole noted that a review of actual spending across state government revealed nearly half of all budget line items were overfunded, totaling close to $2 billion in excess.

The budget plan also eliminates an additional 3,300 “ghost employee” state positions, increases local revenue sharing by $65 million to support local communities as they provide essential services like police, fire protection, and infrastructure repairs, and builds on landmark investments in infrastructure and public safety within the budget for the current fiscal year.

“By cutting down on waste, fraud and abuse, we can free up resources to be used on essential services like infrastructure, supporting our communities and keeping people safe,” BeGole said. “House Republicans once again put the people, their priorities and their pocketbooks first with this budget.”