Committee backs WIIA application and intent to bond for Harriman wastewater plant expansion

The Orange County Legislature’s Physical Services Committee on Aug. 25 authorized staff to file an application under the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) program for upgrades and expansion of the Harriman Wastewater Treatment Plant, and separately approved a resolution stating the Orange County Sewer District No. 1’s intent to adopt a bond resolution within six months of any WIIA award.

"This is the WIIA grant," Eric Dudanaga, Department of Public Works, said during the presentation, noting the application deadline was Sept. 12 and that the grant program would pay 25% of eligible project costs up to a program cap of $25,000,000. He said staff planned to request the program cap because the project’s projected costs would make that eligible amount relevant to the county’s financing plan.

Committee members discussed the estimated project scale and potential impacts to ratepayers. A committee member referenced prior presentations by Delaware Engineering and said projected total project costs had been discussed at $185,000,000. During the discussion another speaker used a different figure ("$85,000,000"), and staff reported the WIIA program limit of $25,000,000 would be the maximum WIIA award even if 25% of the project exceeded that cap. Committee discussion also referenced other financing avenues the county is pursuing, including Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) financing and applications previously submitted in May and June to state programs and the Office of the New York State Comptroller.

Committee members asked about how the project could affect ratepayers. Staff said presentations by the project’s consultants had given a range of potential rate impacts: current user charges were described during discussion as roughly $400 (frequency not specified), and a consultant’s worst-case estimate discussed in prior presentations could increase charges to about $1,000 per user per year. Committee members emphasized this was a range and that actual impacts would depend on final project scope, external grant awards and financing terms.

On the bond resolution, Dudanaga said the sewer district must demonstrate an intent to bond as part of the WIIA application; the committee approved a resolution stating the intent to adopt a bond resolution within six months of award. Dudanaga said the county will not issue bonds or raise special-district rates until the state Comptroller’s office and other required approvals are obtained. The committee approved both the WIIA application authorization and the intent-to-bond resolution on voice votes; no recorded no votes were recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: the Harriman expansion is a multiyear capital project that committee members and staff described as large in scale. Staff told the committee they are pursuing multiple state funding sources and financing mechanisms; the WIIA award, CWSRF financing and future bond issuance would interact to determine rate impacts and the county’s out-of-pocket financing needs.

What’s next: staff will submit the WIIA application by the Sept. 12 deadline and return to the committee for a formal bond resolution if a WIIA award or other approvals require action. The record shows the county’s financing plan remains contingent on multiple external approvals and final project scope.