As Predicted, Regional Water Department Siphons Off Suburbs' Funds For Detroiters

Regional - a term floated by many in the southeastern Michigan area, is a euphemism for having the suburb counties pay for Detroit's financial losses caused by corruption and malfeasance.

And so it is with the The Great Lakes Water Authority, our Regional water department borne out of Detroit's bankruptcy and incompetence.

As predicted, The GLWA, formerly the DWSD, is now going to siphon money from the suburbs to subsidize Detoiters.

The Detroit Free Press: Detroit to get $1.2M to help households pay past-due water bills, aid conservation education

The Great Lakes Water Authority is transferring more than $1.6 million to Detroit and Flint for conservation education and to help customers pay past-due water bills.

Board members transferred the Water Residential Assistance Program funding from uncommitted 2019 bill assistance funds from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

Yep, using suburban ratepayers funds for Detroiters who either can't or more truthfully prefer not to pay for their own water. Regionalism at its best. Interesting that they were open this about it, I expect that 1.6 million to be just the beginning, and given how they've been charging the suburbs more for water than Detroit from the start its really not surprising that they're now openly diverting money from the suburbs to the city.

In another example of how regionalism works in this area, the Detroit Institute of Arts is looking to continue their regional millage - and renew it where Oakland and Macomb pay twice the amount of Wayne County where the DIA is located:

If approved, the renewal will draw about $13.6 million from Oakland County taxpayers annually, $5.8 million from Macomb County residents and $8.5 million from Wayne County taxpayers.

Expect more calls for Regionalism as they push for a regional transit system with Oakland and Macomb counties footing the bill for transit in Detroit.