Advanced septic systems

Republican legislators voiced numerous reasons for their opposition to moving forward with the news 1/% sales tax, with the strongest objections centered on what they called an unfair allocation of the new tax revenues to sewers versus advanced septic systems.

State legislators passed budget resolutions last week that would establish a countywide wastewater management district in Suffolk and authorize a 1/8% county sales tax to fund water quality improvement projects to reduce nitrogen discharges to groundwater from septic systems.

An extension of the Drinking Water Protection Program to 2060, with a 1/8-penny sales tax increase would provide $3.1 billion to reduce nitrogen pollution by funding replacement of conventional cesspools/septic systems with advanced onsite treatment systems.

The IRS has reversed its 2020 ruling that Suffolk's Septic Improvement Program grants were gross income for federal tax purposes. The new ruling will boost the installation of nitrogen-reducing septic systems, helping to protect local waterways and marine life.

The funding will provide financial assistance to homeowners for the replacement of cesspools with advanced septic systems that remove nitrogen from household septic wastes.

In response to a request from Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy, the IRS issued a ruling that homeowners who have received grant funding to install advanced septic systems must pay federal income tax on the grant money.

County officials will speak about County Executive Steve Bellone's proposed grant/low-interest loan program to help homeowners with the cost of installing advanced septic systems.

The grant-loan program aims to provide incentives for homeowners to upgrade from septic systems that pollute groundwater.

Like the legislation sought by County Executive Steve Bellone last year, State Assemblyman Fred Thiele's proposal would create a fund with a $1-per-thousand water surcharge for public water customers. The fund would help homeowners install costly advanced septic systems.

What happens after you flush the toilet? County officials want you to think about that — because what happens after you flush directly affects both the quality of your drinking water and the health of the waterways surrounding our island.