Oklahoma looks for $50 million in water infrastructure funding
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) estimates the state’s water infrastructure crisis will cost taxpayers up to $24 billion by 2030. With push from state Senator Chuck Hall’s Senate Bill 1333, they hope for a $50 million investment of a one-time “Water Infrastructure Enhancement Revolving Fund.” This is a new low-interest loan program for local jurisdictions to make water-related improvements.
“We currently administer a Rural Economic Action Plan, or REAP, grant for water projects; that has been underfunded for going on at least ten years now,” said Lori Johnson, OWRB chief of the financial assistance division in an interview with KGOU. “And so a portion of that 50 million we’re asking to put towards that grant program, and then we’re asking for a portion of that funding to go towards our already existing technical assistance programs, to just help bolster those programs so that we can help ensure that our workforce is trained and educated, so we can continue to recruit and have professional development for those those individuals.”
The water infrastructure crisis in Oklahoma mirrors a problem facing many parts of the country.While bill passed put of the Senate Energy Committee, it was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for review and a vote to move onto the floor. The passing of the bill is partly weighed by the potential state agency budget shortfall.
