The state is close to running out of money to clean thousands of abandoned, polluted properties all across Michigan.
The state spends about 15 million dollars a year cleaning up abandoned industrial sites. The money comes from bond sales approved by voters back in the 1990s.
Governor Rick Snyder has proposed a one-time shift of money to pay for the cleanup program in the coming fiscal year. But that’s not a permanent solution.
James Clift is with the Michigan Environmental Council. He says a new round of bond sales is an option. That would have to be OK’d by voters.
“They’re basically out of money, so they’re looking for other sources, so it would have to be on the 2018 ballot if they’re going to fill this hole.”
Clift says there’s interest in making the cleanup program part of the Snyder administration’s larger strategy on infrastructure.