[Added 7-29-2014 by L.L. No. 31-2014]
[Amended 12-15-2020 by L.L. No. 6-2021; 2-1-2023 by L.L. No. 11-2023]
An enhanced Suffolk County Water Quality Protection Program
(hereinafter "the enhanced program") designed to provide funding for
the purpose of protecting groundwater in Suffolk County's sole source
aquifer from discharges of pollutants is hereby established beginning
on December 1, 2014, and ending on December 31, 2023. The purpose
of the enhanced program is to acquire, by fee, lease or easement,
interests in land to protect and/or enhance groundwater, for water
quality protection and restoration program and land stewardship initiatives,
and for installation, improvements, maintenance and operation of sewer
infrastructure and sewage treatment plants and for the installation
of residential and commercial enhanced nitrogen removal septic systems.
A.Â
In addition to, but separate and apart from the 1/4% sales and compensating use tax proceeds generated under Article XII of the Suffolk County Charter, and separate and apart from the criteria set forth for specific environmental protection, water quality protection and restoration program and land stewardship initiatives and sewer taxpayer protection paid for from such sales and compensating use tax proceeds, either directly or indirectly, the County Executive, County Legislature and County Comptroller are hereby authorized, empowered and directed, regardless of any intervening circumstances, to authorize, issue, appropriate and expend $29,400,000 in serial bonds of the County of Suffolk, via duly enacted resolutions of the County of Suffolk, pursuant to § 11.00 of the New York Local Finance Law to acquire, by fee, lease or easement, interests in land to protect and/or enhance groundwater, for water quality protection and restoration program and land stewardship initiatives, and for installation, improvements, maintenance and operation of sewer infrastructure and sewage treatment plants and for the installation of residential and commercial enhanced nitrogen removal septic systems that prevent water degradation or remediate degraded water quality.
B.Â
The full amount of $29,400,000 in serial bonds contemplated by this
article shall be proposed in the 2016-2018 recommended capital budget
and program submitted to the County Legislature by the County Executive
on April 15, 2015; the full amount of $29,400,000 in serial bonds
contemplated by this article shall be adopted by the County of Suffolk,
regardless of any intervening circumstances, in the 2016-18 Capital
Budget and Program no later than December 31, 2015. The amount of
$29,400,000 in serial bonds shall be fully appropriated in 2016 and
issued and expended by the County, regardless of any intervening circumstances,
via duly enacted resolutions and administrative actions of the County
of Suffolk, no later than December 31, 2023, according to the following
formula:
[Amended 12-15-2020 by L.L. No. 6-2021; 2-1-2023 by L.L. No. 11-2023]
(1)Â
Twenty million dollars to be used to acquire, by fee, lease or easement,
interests in land as set forth in § 12-2A(1)(a) through
(e);
(2)Â
Four million seven hundred thousand dollars to be used solely for water quality protection and restoration program and land stewardship initiatives projects as set forth in § C12-2B, exclusive of Suffolk County personnel costs; and
(3)Â
Four million seven hundred thousand dollars to be used for installation,
improvements, maintenance and operation of sewer infrastructure and
sewage treatment plants and for the installation of residential and
commercial enhanced nitrogen removal septic systems as set forth in
§ 12-2D(2)(c) that remediate degraded water quality.
The management, administration and day-to-day supervision of
the enhanced program shall be provided by the Division of Planning
and Environment and Division of Real Property Acquisition and Management
in the Department of Economic Development and Planning, which Division
shall be responsible for maintaining the official records of land
acquisitions consummated. The Budget Office shall maintain the official
records of money expended pursuant to the funding components of the
enhanced program.
