The Suffolk Water Quality Restoration Act will appear as a referendum on Suffolk County voters’ ballots this November. The measure was signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul in May, and County Executive Ed Romaine signed it in July to add to the ballot. If passed, the act would raise the county sales tax by 0.0125% in order to fund the replacement of nitrogen-polluting septic tanks and future sewer expansion projects.
Sponsored by State Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), this act is estimated to generate up to $4 billion in new funding, over a period of 50 years, solely for water quality improvement. The funding will be spent on sewer infrastructure, installing wastewater treatment where sewers aren’t available, and upgrading cesspools and septic tanks to prevent nitrogen pollution (excessive amounts of nitrogen compounds), which is a serious threat to the Suffolk County environment. It stimulates algae growth, among other things, and these steps are aimed at removing it from cesspools and septic tanks.
“Today, we have given authorization for the voters of Suffolk County to decide how best to address the impacts of nitrogen pollution,” stated Senator Martinez, “This serious threat to our region’s ground and surface waters is reversible, but only by making investments in the technology and infrastructure needed to stop its release into the environment. I am proud to have had this once-in-a-generation opportunity to sponsor legislation that addresses one of Long Island’s greatest environmental challenges, and I thank Governor Hochul for her continued support.”
The legislation passed the New York State Assembly unanimously in April, and it passed the State Senate with a vote of 57-1, demonstrating broad bipartisan support for Suffolk’s water quality issue.
“We look forward to…ensur[ing] the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act is added to the November ballot, giving county voters a voice in their clean water future,” stated David Ansel, the Vice President of Water Protection for the environmental nonprofit Save the Sound. “For the first time in decades, we are making progress toward addressing this longstanding problem in a meaningful way.”
After it was approved by the state, the Suffolk County Legislature voted on June 25, 15-2, to approve the Water Quality Restoration Act. On July 8, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R), accompanied by New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor), legislature members, and environmental advocates, signed the bill. The bill is now on the ballot this November.
Romaine stated, “The success of this bill is the result of years of partnership and a unified mission to protect Suffolk County now, and into the future.”
If Suffolk County voters vote to pass the bill, the restoration sales tax will expire in 2060, ensuring improvements in drinking water, as well as in local bodies of water, such as lakes and harbors. The decision is ultimately up to voters this November.
