The Orange County Legislature voted unanimously on Aug. 14 to find that proposed improvements to the facilities of Orange County Sewer District No. 1 are in the public interest, a step officials said is required before financing and grant decisions move forward. The resolution passed on a roll call vote with 16 ayes.

Legislator Tully, who led committee work on the project, said the county has submitted or is preparing “over $60,000,000 worth of grant applications” to offset project costs and reduce the burden on ratepayers. “We showed how that will impact ratepayers,” Tully said, adding that if no grant money is secured the annual cost could be “up to $800” per unit and that with substantial grants the figure could be “close to about $370.”

The vote follows years of committee study and two public comment periods, Tully said, and he urged residents to attend the Sewer Advisory Board meeting scheduled the week after the legislature to hear the most recent public-hearing results.

Legislator Sierra, who has followed the project, thanked committee members and county staff for the engineering studies and outreach. “It affects construction, it affects schools, it affects everything,” Sierra said, adding that sewer infrastructure is critical for the county’s future development.

Discussion: county officials and legislators described extensive outreach to towns and villages within the sewer district, multiple engineering reports and public hearings over several years, and varying cost scenarios tied to grant awards. No specific financing plan was finalized during the session; the finding confirms the project is in the public interest and allows subsequent steps such as grant acceptance and bond actions to proceed.

Decision/action: The legislature approved the finding by roll call (16 ayes). The motion was introduced by Legislator Tully and seconded by Legislator Benelli. The resolution’s approval does not itself appropriate construction funds but clears a statutory step under county law to move forward with project permitting, grant applications and future financing.

What’s next: County staff and the Sewer Advisory Board will continue grant pursuit and public oversight; Tully noted a scheduled advisory-board meeting to discuss public-hearing results and next steps. If grant funding falls short, legislators and staff indicated rate increases for district customers would be revisited and explained at future meetings.

Sources: Remarks and votes recorded at the Aug. 14, 2025 Orange County Legislature meeting.