Riverhead: On Tuesday, June 25th, Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R - 18th L.D.) along with her Legislative colleagues voted 15-2 to approve Introductory Resolution 1461 which will extend and revise the Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program and to establish a new Water Quality Restoration Fund supported by an additional one eighth percent (1/8%) sales and use tax.
This proposition will be voted on by the residents of Suffolk County in the upcoming November 5th General Election. The Suffolk County Legislature does not have the authority to impose a sale tax increase, so the proposed measure must be voted on by the residents through a referendum. If approved by the voters, this program will be funded by an additional one-eighth (1/8%) sales tax increase and will go into effect as early as March 1, 2025, and extended until February 29, 2060. The revenue generated from the 1/8% sales tax increase will be deposited into the newly created Water Quality Restoration Fund and can only be used for water quality improvement projects, such as expanding sewer coverage to new areas, enhancing and maintaining existing sewerage facilities, and replacing and installing I-A (Innovative and Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems) in environmentally sensitive areas, where sewers cannot be installed.
“I’m happy that we were able to amend the much debated, original legislation to one that will more effectively address nitrogen pollution while providing good-paying jobs for our residents. The final decision now rests in the hands of Suffolk County voters on November 5,” stated Legislator Bontempi.
Suffolk County, home to over 1.5 million people, currently relies on more than 380,000 cesspools and wastewater systems, with over 209,000 in environmentally sensitive areas ill-equipped to handle wastewater treatment. This lack of proper infrastructure has been a significant cause of nitrogen pollution in our bays, harbors, and ground water, contributing to harmful algae blooms, as well as significant barriers to sustainable economic growth.
In response, the Suffolk County Legislature has approved a long-term plan to expand and upgrade Suffolk County’s aging wastewater infrastructure. The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, if approved by the voters in November’s election, gives the county the authority to establish a new long-term funding source for wastewater improvement projects through a miniscule sales tax increase. Additionally, the revenues generated from this small tax increase would allow the county to apply for much needed matching grant funding from the state and federal government.
The proposition to be voted on at the Tuesday, November 5th General Election, will look as follows:
RESOLUTION NO. -2024, ADOPTING LOCAL LAW NO. - 2024: TO EXTEND AND REVISE THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE EXISTING ONE QUARTER PERCENT SALES AND USE TAX, AND TO CREATE A NEW WATER QUALITY RESTORATION FUND SUPPORTED BY ONE EIGHTH PERCENT SALES AND USE TAX FOR CLEAN WATER PROJECTS
SHALL RESOLUTION NO. -2024, TO EXTEND AND REVISE THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM AND CREATE A ONE EIGHTH PERCENT SALES AND USE TAX TO MODERNIZE SUFFOLK’S SEWERS AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER, BE APPROVED?
A YES VOTE ENSURES COUNTY FUNDING TO 2060 FOR CLEAN WATER PROJECTS, IMPROVEMENTS IN DRINKING WATER, BAYS AND HARBORS AND A NO VOTE CONTINUES WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION.
