Birmingham Water Works Bill Sparks Debate on AL House Floor
SB330 floor debate ran two hours before passing 66-27
A bill to revamp the Board of the Birmingham Water Works was the subject of extended debate on the floor of the Alabama House Thursday morning. The debate ran approximately two hours before SB330 passed by a vote of 66 YEAS to 27 NAYS.
SB330 restructures the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB), decreasing Birmingham’s influence on the Board while increasing representation from outlying areas and State officials. Under the new structure, the BWWB will be reduced from nine to seven members. The Mayor and City Council of Birmingham will each appoint two members, the Governor and Lt. Governor will each appoint one member, and the last will be appointed “by the governing body of the county, other than the county where the authorizing municipality is principally located, where the largest number of accounts serving water customers are located outside the county in which the authorizing municipality is located.“ (Enrolled SB322, Lines 171-175).
Supporters argued that this reorganization will enhance efficiency, address infrastructure issues like widespread pipe leakage, and restore public trust following past scandals. They also highlighted concerns over frequent rate hikes and billing problems.
Critics, including Birmingham city officials and Democratic legislators, contended that the bill undermines local governance and disproportionately affects Birmingham's predominantly Black population. They viewed the move as a political takeover favoring predominantly white suburbs and expressed concerns over the lack of local input in the bill's development.
The Birmingham City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing SB330, asserting their capability to represent residents and ratepayers effectively. They argued that the bill would adversely impact local governance by reducing the city's appointments to the board.
The key provisions of SB330 are:
- Board Restructuring: The BWWB will be reduced from nine to seven members. Birmingham's mayor and city council will each appoint two members, while the remaining three will be appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and leaders from surrounding counties.
- Qualifications and Ethics: Appointees are required to have backgrounds in engineering or finance. All members must undergo ethics training and will receive a stipend of $1,000 per month.
- Transparency Measures: The bill mandates public hearings before any rate increases and subjects board members to the state Ethics Law.
The BWWB serves over 770,000 customers, with a majority residing within Jefferson County. The proposed changes have reignited long-standing tensions over governance and racial equity in public utilities, as well as tension between Jefferson and surrounding Counties over control of the new BWWB.
SB330 now goes to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk for her signature.
The House floor debate on SB330 may be seen on YouTube on The Alabama Channel HERE.
