Supporters urge Suffolk voters to approve water-quality sales-tax referendum

Supporters of the proposed Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act told the Legislature on June 4 that voters should be allowed to decide a plan they say would fund widespread sewering and modern on‑site wastewater systems to reduce nitrogen pollution.

At a public hearing, environmental advocates, municipal leaders and business groups described decades of water‑quality decline across Long Island and said the referendum is the last step in a broad, bipartisan effort in Albany and the County. ‘‘We have a way to a clear path forward, but we need the funding,’’ said Peter Topping, executive director of Peconic Baykeeper, summing up the argument that federal and state funding will leverage local dollars for large projects.

Why the measure matters: The act would let voters authorize an additional one‑eighth percent sales‑and‑use tax to create a Water Quality Restoration Fund. Proponents — including the Group for the East End and Save the Sound — said the fund would finance sewer construction and advanced onsite waste treatment that lowers nitrogen loads into groundwater and embayments. Robert DeLuca of Group for the East End said the resolutions before the Legislature are ‘‘the essential last legislative step in Suffolk County's generation of commitment to a clean water future.’’

Economic and public‑health arguments were front and center. Labor and business leaders said the work would create local construction jobs and support downtown revitalization. ‘‘This would not only be a critical step ensuring security of our property values, our aquatic recreation and tourism economic growth, but it would create thousands of local jobs,’’ said Matthew Arachich of local labor groups.

Process and next steps: The Legislature held the public hearing and will consider moving the act through committee. Advocates noted the bill carried nearly unanimous bipartisan support in Albany and urged the Legislature to transmit the referendum to the ballot this fall. David Ansel of Save the Sound told lawmakers, ‘‘This will allow your most important stakeholders, the residents of Suffolk County, the right to decide their clean water future.’’

The hearing produced frequent questions from legislators about implementation details, recharge and reuse opportunities, and how to balance sewering with aquifer protection; multiple lawmakers said they are working on clarifications to Article 6 (reuse and recharge guidance) before final passage. The committee schedule now calls for further committee consideration and a vote at a future general meeting ahead of the November ballot, if advanced by the Legislature.