Snyder seeks $30 million to help pay water bills of Flint residents

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LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder will propose $30 million in state funding to help pay the water bills of Flint residents facing an emergency over the city's lead-contaminated water supply.

Snyder will brief city officials and pastors about the proposal Wednesday and outline it to lawmakers next week in his annual budget proposal, according to a statement the governor's office provided to The Associated Press.

The aid would cover the portion of residential customers' utility bills for water that has been or will be used for drinking, cooking, bathing and washing hands. Customers would still be responsible for paying for water used to flush toilets, water lawns, wash clothes and other purposes.

Lawmakers will have to approve the plan.

"Flint residents will not have to pay for water they cannot drink," the Republican governor said in a statement to the AP late Tuesday. "My budget recommendation will include the request that the state make payments to the city's water system for residential bills going back to April 2014 and alleviate the need for residential water shutoffs."