Suffolk starts collecting new revenue for long-term sewer upgrade plan
An advanced septic system that removes nitrogen from water is installed at a home in Flanders on February 2018. Credit: Randee Daddona
Suffolk County began collecting new tax revenue this month to fund countywide wastewater improvement projects that officials say will improve water quality and drive economic growth.
The voter-approved sales tax hike took effect March 1, with money generated for the new Water Quality Restoration Fund. The fund will allow 50% of revenue to be used toward wastewater treatment facility projects and the remaining half will be available for homeowners to upgrade individual septic systems, according to county code.
Initial figures on how much the increased tax generated will be available in early April based on the time it takes to receive and review tax receipts, according to Michael Martino, a spokesman for County Executive Edward P. Romaine. County officials previously estimated the fund will generate nearly $48 million in its first year.
The tax could generate an estimated $3 billion by 2060 when the fund expires, officials previously said.
The sales tax increased by one-eighth of a percent from 8.625% to 8.75%. Voters approved the measure, known as Proposal 2, by a wide margin in November with nearly 72% backing the proposal, according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections.
The goal is to reduce the use of cesspools across the county, which environmentalists say is a key driver of nitrogen pollution in the county's surface and ground water. County officials have also cited lack of wastewater infrastructure as a “significant obstacle” to economic growth, particularly in downtown business districts.
The Suffolk County Legislature will vote at its next meeting April 8 to appoint members to a new board that will oversee the fund and recommend projects for approval.
The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Board of Trustees will be made up of 21 members chosen by various agencies from town government groups, environmental organizations, business and labor groups, the Department of Environmental Conservation and several departments of county government. The members are each appointed to two-year terms when approved by the legislature.
The board will face a quick deadline of May 1 to prepare a Subwatersheds Wastewater Implementation Plan that lists proposed projects eligible for funding and outline how each project would improve water quality, according to county code.
In a statement Wednesday, Romaine said the board will help plan “the most important water conservation initiatives seen in Suffolk County in generations.”
He reaffirmed the May 1 deadline and thanked the board members and legislators “who have played a critical role in bringing this initiative into reality.”
The board will elect a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and treasurer and would be required to meet at least twice a month. The board would also need to prepare an annual report for the Suffolk Legislature that outlines projects underway through the fund, all the money spent during the prior year and administrative activities.
The fund will be subject to an annual independent audit, which will be submitted to comptrollers for New York State and Suffolk County. It will be publicly available 30 days after it's completed, according to county code.
A standalone legislative resolution is required to appropriate any money from the fund, according to the legislation.
In an interview last month, Romaine said he hopes residents take advantage of the money available to upgrade to innovative advanced wastewater treatment systems, adding that there could be an adjustment to the 50/50 split based on usage.
The county’s Septic Improvement Program currently offers a $15,000 grant, plus an additional $5,000 to low- and moderate-income applicants.
Supervisors from East Hampton, Southampton, Babylon, Brookhaven and Southold are all expected to be members of the board.
Southampton Supervisor Maria Moore will represent the Central Pine Barrens Commission, whose mission is to protect the region's ground and surface water. Moore was mayor of the Village of Westhampton Beach when it completed a multimillion-dollar wastewater treatment project in 2023 that connected the village to the county’s plant at nearby Francis S. Gabreski Airport.
Suffolk County began collecting new tax revenue this month to fund countywide wastewater improvement projects that officials say will improve water quality and drive economic growth.
The voter-approved sales tax hike took effect March 1, with money generated for the new Water Quality Restoration Fund. The fund will allow 50% of revenue to be used toward wastewater treatment facility projects and the remaining half will be available for homeowners to upgrade individual septic systems, according to county code.
Initial figures on how much the increased tax generated will be available in early April based on the time it takes to receive and review tax receipts, according to Michael Martino, a spokesman for County Executive Edward P. Romaine. County officials previously estimated the fund will generate nearly $48 million in its first year.
The tax could generate an estimated $3 billion by 2060 when the fund expires, officials previously said.
The sales tax increased by one-eighth of a percent from 8.625% to 8.75%. Voters approved the measure, known as Proposal 2, by a wide margin in November with nearly 72% backing the proposal, according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections.
The goal is to reduce the use of cesspools across the county, which environmentalists say is a key driver of nitrogen pollution in the county's surface and ground water. County officials have also cited lack of wastewater infrastructure as a “significant obstacle” to economic growth, particularly in downtown business districts.
The Suffolk County Legislature will vote at its next meeting April 8 to appoint members to a new board that will oversee the fund and recommend projects for approval.
The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Board of Trustees will be made up of 21 members chosen by various agencies from town government groups, environmental organizations, business and labor groups, the Department of Environmental Conservation and several departments of county government. The members are each appointed to two-year terms when approved by the legislature.
The board will face a quick deadline of May 1 to prepare a Subwatersheds Wastewater Implementation Plan that lists proposed projects eligible for funding and outline how each project would improve water quality, according to county code.
In a statement Wednesday, Romaine said the board will help plan “the most important water conservation initiatives seen in Suffolk County in generations.”
He reaffirmed the May 1 deadline and thanked the board members and legislators “who have played a critical role in bringing this initiative into reality.”
The board will elect a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and treasurer and would be required to meet at least twice a month. The board would also need to prepare an annual report for the Suffolk Legislature that outlines projects underway through the fund, all the money spent during the prior year and administrative activities.
The fund will be subject to an annual independent audit, which will be submitted to comptrollers for New York State and Suffolk County. It will be publicly available 30 days after it's completed, according to county code.
A standalone legislative resolution is required to appropriate any money from the fund, according to the legislation.
In an interview last month, Romaine said he hopes residents take advantage of the money available to upgrade to innovative advanced wastewater treatment systems, adding that there could be an adjustment to the 50/50 split based on usage.
The county’s Septic Improvement Program currently offers a $15,000 grant, plus an additional $5,000 to low- and moderate-income applicants.
Supervisors from East Hampton, Southampton, Babylon, Brookhaven and Southold are all expected to be members of the board.
Southampton Supervisor Maria Moore will represent the Central Pine Barrens Commission, whose mission is to protect the region's ground and surface water. Moore was mayor of the Village of Westhampton Beach when it completed a multimillion-dollar wastewater treatment project in 2023 that connected the village to the county’s plant at nearby Francis S. Gabreski Airport.
Joe Werkmeister covers the towns of Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.
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