Suffolk County, New York residents have spoken: on election day, voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 2, a measure that raises the countywide sales tax from 8.625% to 8.75%. This modest 0.125% increase is a pivotal step in the county’s long-term efforts to clean up its waterways and modernize its wastewater infrastructure. The additional revenue, which will go into effect in March 2025, is expected to generate an estimated $49 million annually starting in 2026 and a total of $3 billion by 2060. These funds will directly support Suffolk County’s Water Quality Restoration Act, ensuring cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and more sustainable economic growth.
Signed into law by County Executive Ed Romaine earlier this year and contingent upon voter approval, the measure passed with overwhelming support—over 71% of the vote. Its objectives are ambitious yet essential: reversing decades of nitrogen pollution, protecting vital aquifers, and ensuring the long-term health of Suffolk’s waterways and communities.
Key to this initiative is the Subwatersheds Wastewater Plan, originally adopted by the county legislature in 2020. The plan introduces a hybrid approach to reducing reliance on outdated cesspools and septic systems, identified as primary sources of nitrogen pollution. Where feasible, properties will connect to public sewers; in areas where this is impractical, grants will help homeowners replace outdated systems with Innovative and Alternative On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (I/A Systems).
The lack of wastewater infrastructure has long been a barrier to sustainable growth in Suffolk County. Downtown business districts have experienced stagnation, with constrained property values and limited economic activity. Proposition 2 addresses this challenge by providing a stable, long-term funding source to modernize sewers and improve wastewater treatment, unlocking new opportunities for economic development.
The Act’s focus on infrastructure isn’t purely economic—it’s environmental as well. By mitigating nitrogen pollution, the initiative aims to restore the health of Suffolk’s bays, harbors, and groundwater. These improvements promise to benefit industries reliant on clean water, such as tourism, fisheries, and agriculture, while enhancing residents’ quality of life through cleaner drinking water and revitalized ecosystems.
Starting in 2025, the 1/8% sales tax increase will directly fund:
Half of the funds will be allocated to sewer projects, with the remaining half supporting I/A systems. This balanced approach allows Suffolk County to tackle water quality challenges comprehensively, addressing urban and suburban needs alike.
Despite some opposition regarding the tax increase, the overwhelming voter approval demonstrates widespread recognition of the urgent need for action. This initiative promises far-reaching benefits for residents, businesses and future generations.
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