BIRMINGHAM WATERWORKS CUSTOMERS DESERVE A VOICE IN WATER WORKS RESTRUCTURING
Ask your House Member to vote NO on SB 330 today!
The bill goes to the floor for a vote on Thursday (May 1).
As you’re most likely aware, there have been long-standing issues with the Birmingham Water Works Board indicating a need for restructuring. Elements of SB 330, like term limits, prohibitions on “revolving door” contracts or board members, subjecting board members and employees to the Alabama Ethics Law, requirements for regular financial reports, and the introduction of a process to remove board members for cause are all commendable reforms that we could support.
However, many other components of the bill are cause for concern. The following parts are particularly troubling:
- Giving statewide offices with no particular or permanent connection to the BWWB service area appointment powers
- Limiting the number of board members appointed by elected officials that represent the majority of BWWB’s customers
- The omission of any requirements for all but one board position other than “general business and finance” experience
- The ability of elected officials to appoint themselves to the Board
- The failure to consider requirements for scientists or drinking water quality experts to be appointed to the board
Alabama Rivers Alliance, Southern Environmental Law Center, Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Cahaba River Society all agree that a top-down, statewide bill, introduced at the tail end of a legislative session sets a bad precedent. Any water utility issue that involves multiple jurisdictions, dozens of stakeholders, and hundreds of thousands of ratepayers will be complex. Such complex topics require lengthy engagement with the public across multiple levels of government, not a one-size-fits-all solution. We welcome discussions to improve the governance of BWWB and of Alabama’s other water utilities. We support common-sense reforms that will ensure the Birmingham Water Works Board can effectively serve its customers, but believe that in order to create lasting change, a more deliberative process, with greater stakeholder engagement is necessary.
The customers of the Birmingham Water Works Board and the metropolitan Birmingham community should be the ones who decide how to manage our water and our water utility, not the Secretary of State, Lieutenant Governor, or the Attorney General.
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