Flint City Council approves $20M portion of settlement over lead-tainted water

The Flint, Mich., City Council voted to approve its $20 million contribution to a proposed $641 million settlement over lead-contaminated water in the city on Tuesday. 

The council voted 6-1 to use $20 million from its insurance provider for its portion of the settlement, MLive reported.

The city’s taxpayers are not expected to contribute to the settlement. 

It was previously announced that the city would use the insurance money to pay its share of the settlement, which still needs to be approved by a court, but Monday’s vote signaled a formal approval from the city. 

The $20 million would be added to a proposed $600 million settlement from the state of Michigan as well as portions from other defendants. 

The state allowed Flint in 2014 to get its water from the Flint River, which ultimately resulted in tainted water flowing through people’s taps. 

If approved, most of the funds are expected to be given to the city’s children, especially those who were younger than 6 when they were first exposed. This group is the most susceptible to effects from lead poisoning. 

In children, lead exposure can damage the brain and nervous system and slow growth and development.

The water has also been linked to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that killed 12 people.