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| Date: | April 2, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Peter Winiecki | | Contact Phone: | 651-297-8077 | | Contact Email: | peter.winiecki@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| REPRESENTATIVE O’DRISCOLL AND SENATOR PEDERSON ANNOUNCE PASSAGE OF BILL TO MODIFY MANDATORY TIERED WATER PRICING FOR CITIES |
St. Paul – A bill that would remove the current state mandate on cities to implement a tiered water pricing program was signed into law by Governor Dayton today as part of the Legislature’s permitting bill package. Originally introduced as House File 1923, this measure was carried in the House by Representative Tim O’Driscoll (R-Sartell) and in the Senate by Senator John Pederson (R-St. Cloud).
“With tight personal and family budgets, Minnesotans shouldn’t have to worry about the state mandating water pricing increases,” said Representative O’Driscoll. “This mandate would have had a negative effect on schools, hospitals, hotels, beverage bottlers and other water dependant users in my district and statewide.”
Under prior Minnesota state law, effective January 1, 2013, all public water suppliers (cities) of more than 1000 people would have been required to implement a tiered water pricing system, increasing rates for the higher tiers. This would mean that larger water users would be charged more per unit for water than others. The bill signed into law today removes the state mandate on cities to implement such a program and would instead encourage other water conservation methods for each community.
“By lifting this mandate, we’re putting control back in the hands of local governments – allowing our cities to make decisions about water pricing that are best for their communities,” said Senator Pederson. “Furthermore, businesses and schools won’t be required by the state to bear the largest burden of the cost of water. Instead, those dollars can be put towards growing jobs and teaching our children.”
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