NYS lawmakers give Suffolk green light to propose sewer referendum

ALBANY — The State Senate approved a bill Thursday that gives Suffolk County one more try to allow residents to vote on a referendum to expand sewer and septic treatment and protect water quality.

Approved 57-0, the bill gives the necessary state permission for the county to put the referendum on the ballot in November. The Assembly had approved the bill last month. Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to sign the legislation.

The referendum would ask Suffolk residents to approve a small percentage tax hike — 0.125% or 12.5 cents per $100 — to create a countywide wastewater treatment district and provide grants to upgrade sewer and septic systems.

State and local officials have said the county needs an integrated plan to address decades of nitrogen pollution. Nearly 75% of Suffolk properties are served by outdated septic systems that do not remove nitrogen from wastewater, county officials have said.

Installing or connecting to sewer systems isn’t practical or feasible for many areas, according to a bill memo filed by sponsors Sen. Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) and Assemb. Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor).

Instead, they said the county will take a hybrid approach, certified by state environmental officials, that includes expanding sewers where possible and elsewhere replacing cesspools and septic systems with what’s called “innovative/alternative on-site wastewater treatment systems” that can remove nitrogen and other contaminants.

"Nitrogen pollution is a serious threat to Suffolk County's ground and surface waters, which can be effectively addressed by expanding sewers and upgrading septic systems," Martinez said in a statement.

The state had given permission for the referendum last year, but Suffolk legislators nixed the idea. County lawmakers said there were concerns about the allocation of funds, although backers said there was political reluctance to put the tax hike before voters in a year in which the entire county legislature was up for election.

Fast forward one year, and all lawmakers now are on board.

Earlier this year, Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine, county and state legislators, environmentalists and others announced the referendum would be on the ballot in November after small tweaks to the allocation formula in the state legislation.

In short, gradually over time, more money generated by the tax hike would be earmarked for grants for individual septic systems.

The approved legislation also requires the county to report to the state in 2030 whether allocations should be adjusted again.

Even with state legislative approval, the county needs to take one more formal step: The Suffolk Legislature needs to vote by about mid-August to meet a deadline to make sure the referendum appears on the November ballot.

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy