Public-private water bill passes committee

A bill allowing local governments to partner with private companies for big water projects such as reservoirs or treatment plants passed out of a Senate committee Wednesday without opposition.

"This is totally [about] local control, 150 percent," said Senate Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ross Tolleson, R-Perry, who sponsored SB 122. "The only reason you would be against it is because you'd be against anything."

The Georgia and metro Atlanta chambers of commerce endorsed the bill. Katie Kirkpatrick, vice president of environmental affairs for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, said cities need all the help they can get in financing expensive water projects.

"We can talk about these projects all day long, but if there is no way to pay for it, it's just an idea," she said.

Under the bill, local governments could sign 50-year contracts with private companies to build and operate large water projects.

The bill now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

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