Background/Purpose of Request:
House Bill 516 would allow for the sanitary districts to be dissolved in counties with more than 100,000 residents, provided the county and at least one city within the county currently provide water and sewer service to residents, and following the passage of a referendum by the voters of the county.
The bill has received support from many Brunswick County residents, who have petitioned for this ability to dissolve sanitary districts. Many sanitary districts were first started when Brunswick County did not offer water and sewer service. Today, Brunswick County provides water and sewer service in many areas of the county, and has earned statewide awards for that service and efficiency.
With today's conditions, a sanitary district is a redundant government service in Brunswick County, and the proposed bill would allow voters the final say via referendum in whether they receive water and sewer service from a sanitary district or a local government utility service. |