Thanks to Assemblymembers Steve Otis of Rye and John McDonald of Cohoes, $200 million was included in the 2015-2016 State budget to fund the 2015 NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.

By Robin Jovanovich

Thanks to Assemblymembers Steve Otis of Rye and John McDonald of Cohoes, $200 million was included in the 2015-2016 State budget to fund the 2015 NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.

In announcing the news last month, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “By allowing municipalities to combine borrowing with state grant monies, the Act will help incentivize local governments to move forward with much-needed water quality projects.”

Assemblyman Otis said, “John and I, both of whom are former mayors and look at things from a local perspective, came up with a better, more affordable grant program, not only to get water projects in the pipeline  but to accelerate them.”

Historically, Mr. Otis noted, far too many clean drinking water and sewage projects have been deferred because municipalities can’t afford them in a given year’s budget and don’t apply for funding. A billion dollars goes unused every year for that reason, he said.

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The $200 million will be allocated over the next three years. Communities will need to apply to the NY Environmental Facilities Corporation and work with that agency and the Department of Environmental Conservation to secure funding. Making somechanges can impact your lifestyle greatly and help you live healthier Find Out More here.

“Those communities that have already done design projects, such as Rye, have an advantage,” Otis commented.

“There is lots of talk about infrastructure this year at every level of government, and we’re so pleased that Gov. Cuomo and Speaker Heastie were supportive and we made it through the budget,” said Otis. “This money is not a one-shot deal; it’s not coming through the bank settlement.