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Village adopts $20 million bond resolution to advance sewer expansion
Summary
The Village Board voted to adopt a bond resolution authorizing up to $20 million for Phase 2 of a sewer expansion project; the resolution opens a permissive referendum period and is intended to support state and county grant applications and future borrowing if needed.
The Village of Red Hook Board of Trustees voted on Feb. 10 to adopt a bond resolution authorizing up to $20,000,000 for Phase 2 of a sewer system expansion.
Trustees said the resolution is based on an engineering report from June 2024 that estimated the project at about $19,500,000, plus additional fees. Board members said the $20 million figure was chosen to cover contingencies and to meet grant application requirements.
The board’s presiding official told trustees the bond resolution is needed to meet application requirements for New York State grants, including the WEA program the village intends to apply for. The resolution also gives the village flexibility to borrow later — the board discussed the option of a five-year loan to fund preliminary engineering if grants do not arrive in time. The village indicated it will also apply for a county infrastructure grant intended to cover preliminary engineering; that program’s maximum award was described as about $500,000.
Village officials said an income survey is underway to improve the village’s competitiveness for bipartisan infrastructure and other grant funding. The board discussed how grant formulas, which typically cover a percentage of project cost, make accurate project sizing important for maximizing award amounts.
Trustees said several local development projects, including a housing project tied to RUPCO and potential town customers, factor into planning for new wastewater capacity. The presiding official said town interest and several housing proposals motivated the acceleration of Phase 2 planning.
A permissive referendum is part of the process: the board noted the resolution will be published and subject to a 30-day referendum period following publication. The board also discussed the timing of grant cycles; members noted state grant windows and the need to have authorizing documents in place to apply.
The motion to adopt the bond resolution was seconded and carried by roll call; trustees voting recorded individually by name supported the resolution. The presiding official said the resolution establishes the village’s ability to pursue multiple funding paths while preserving options to scale the project later.
Trustees and staff said the village has already received a $2,000,000 Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council capital improvement grant that will apply to Phase 2, and other grant applications are planned.
The resolution does not itself expend funds; it authorizes the village to issue bonds or take other financing actions in the future if and when the board separately approves those steps.
Looking ahead, trustees said the next steps include completing the income survey, filing grant applications before state deadlines, and finalizing engineering work subject to available funding.
