Mchigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s wide-ranging probe into the Flint water crisis could cost as much as $4.9 million, more than triple the amount allocated by the state in a contract in March, according to a posting on the state Administrative Board website.
Earlier this year, Schuette received approval from the board to expand the contract to up to $1.5 million, from the original $249,000, with Flood Law, a Royal Oak legal firm. Todd Flood is the lawyer Schuette tapped to head his investigation into whether any state laws were violated in the lead contamination of Flint drinking water, which has led to state and federal emergency declarations and instructions to Flint residents not to drink tap water without using a lead filter.
The funding request is scheduled to be considered Tuesday by the finance committee of the state Administrative Board. Half of the money would come from the state’s general funds and half from restricted funds for lawsuit settlement proceeds, according to the posting. The agenda item would also allow for a “two-month extension for legal services for the Flint Water Investigation.”
Schuette spokeswoman Andrea Bitely said in an email Monday that the funding request had been previously disclosed, but she did not provide details.
“This is the funding that has already been reported,” Bitely wrote.
Source: Flint water criminal investigation costs triple — and may hit $5 million