Mayor Neeley stops liens on active water accounts for Flint residents

Mayor proposes $250,000 ARPA allocation to provide support for families

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley has made the decision to not place property liens on active water accounts, rescinding impending lien notices that were recently sent to many Flint residents.

For residents who are having a difficult time paying bills, the Neeley administration is sending an emergency water resolution to the Flint City Council tonight, Monday, May 13, proposing a $250,000 ARPA allocation to provide additional support for those families. The City of Flint will also continue to seek funding for additional water assistance programs.

The City Treasurer is required by City of Flint Ordinance 46-50a to certify water and sewer charges delinquent six months or more every April and start the lien process. Impending lien notices were recently sent to many Flint residents informing them of this.

However, recognizing that many Flint residents continue to struggle to pay their water bills, and that the assistance programs that have been available in recent years are out of funding, Mayor Neeley is taking action to assist Flint residents facing financial hardship. Liens will not be placed on any active water accounts. In addition, liens will not be placed on inactive water accounts as long as property owners make payment arrangements with the City.

Flint’s water infrastructure was built to serve 250,000 people, but the city now has a tax base of just 80,000. That makes water expensive for Flint residents, but 85% of water customers in Flint consistently pay their water bills.

$7.4 million is owed to the City of Flint water and sewer system by 4057 inactive water and sewer accounts, and 126 of those are commercial accounts. $10.2 million is owed by active accounts. This funding is vital to maintain Flint’s water infrastructure, and continued nonpayment is a major threat to the financial stability of the water system and the City of Flint.

“This administration believes that water is a human right and we will continue to work with residents to resolve issues with water payments,” Mayor Neeley said. “Under my administration, we have significantly reduced water shutoffs for Flint residents because we understand that the cost of water can be burdensome for many. We are continuing to seek resources to ease that burden through assistance programs.”

The City of Flint is urging inactive water account holders to make payment arrangements no later than May 24, 2024 to prevent a lien from being placed against the property on the next tax bill.

Although lien notices have been withdrawn for active water and sewer account holders, arrangements still need to be made for these residents to pay outstanding water and sewer bills.

Payment arrangements can be made at the following locations:

Flint City Hall
1101 S. Saginaw St. Flint, MI 48502
Normal Business Hours:
Customer Service Center, First Floor
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dedicated Customer Service for Payment Arrangements:
Income Tax Office, Basement
Thursday, May 16 and Friday, May 17, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

City of Flint Service Center
4813 Clio Rd. Flint, MI 48504
Drive-Thru Bill Pay Hours:
Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Dedicated Customer Service for Payment Arrangements:
Wednesday, May 15 and Wednesday, May 22, 1-4 p.m.

Residents can contact the City of Flint with questions at (810) 766-7015 between the hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.