FRESNO (KMJ) — Bids to encourage more state and federal funding to help pay for Fresno's water infrastructure plan are already in progress – according to Mayor Ashley Swearengin.
Fresno City Councilman Steve Brandau publicly announced he wouldn't vote for the plan until he was convinced ratepayers were getting the best deal.
"I am not going to rest until I know that that help is available", Councilman Brandau announced on Thursday.
"For me that means I am not going to vote on this project in three weeks when it's scheduled for a vote"
But in an exclusive interivew with KMJ – Mayor Swearengin says that's already been happening.
"We'd already been working very closely with the state on their revolving loan fund program. Those discussions were underway".
"Councilman Brandau just put an exclamation point behind what we'd already been doing".
"It's not an either-or. Either we pay for this locally or we get everything covered by the state. It's a both-and. We know we have to raise rates locally".
The overall cost of the project is expected to be $429 million.
