Kathleen Gray

Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau

LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder has asked the Legislature to approve an initial appropriation of $28.5 million “to address Flint emergency needs.”

The administration is asking for action on the request by the end of January and expects to ask for more money in the future.

“Medium- and long-term needs are still being assessed and will be addressed in a future supplemental request,” according to a letter sent by state Budget Director John Roberts to the leadership in the House and Senate.

The $28.5 million, mostly from the state’s general fund would be used for:

$935,000 for the hiring of nine additional school nurses for the Flint school district and funding to the Genesee Intermediate School District to hire two early service coordinators, a psychologist and a health professional to coordinate wraparound services for students and provide fresh fruits and vegetables to elementary students in Genesee County.

$5.7 million for water system needs, potential payment to the city of Flint to aid with utility issues, lab and testing costs, corrosion control procedures and an infrastructure integrity study using outside experts.

$17.2 million for bottled water, water filters and replacement cartridges; field operation costs for the Department of Health and Human Services, epidemiological analysis and case management for individuals with elevated blood levels, nutrition support and community education, support for child and adolescent health centers, assessment of potential linkages to other diseases, food inspections and crisis counseling.

$2 million to help pay for the replacement of plumbing fixtures in schools, child care and adult foster care centers, nursing homes, dialysis centers and surgery centers in Flint.

$2 million to address funding needs for the Michigan National Guard’s role in providing support to the residents of Flint.

$100,000 for the Michigan State Police to pay for the Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee.

The money request is the latest action taken by Snyder to address the ongoing crisis in Flint pertaining to the switch from the Detroit Water and Sewerage System in 2014 to drawing water from the Flint River. The switch, which was made without appropriate corrosion control measures being added to the treated water, resulted in lead leaching into some residents’ homes and businesses and elevated lead levels in the blood of some Flint residents.

Flint returned to the Detroit water system in October and Snyder declared a state of emergency in the city Jan. 5. President Barack Obama declared a federal emergency for the city on Saturday.

The House Appropriations Committee is expected to take up the appropriation request on Wednesday.

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Contact Kathleen Gray: 517-372-8661, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal