Prohibits a city, town, village or of a joint water district from imposing certain levies, charges, taxes or assessments on a property which uses private well water for its water supply; prohibits a city, town or village from imposing certain levies, charges, taxes or assessments on a property which uses a septic system for treatment of waste water.
Summary
A06126 would amend the General Municipal Law to bar cities, towns, villages, and joint water or sewer districts from imposing levies, charges, taxes, or assessments on properties that are not connected to the public system because they use private well water or septic systems. In practical terms, if a municipal or joint water district exists or is established, property owners who rely on their own well for water, or their own septic system for wastewater treatment, could not be charged simply because the district exists.
The bill is framed as a protection for owners of self-supplied water and wastewater systems, preventing local governments from spreading district costs onto properties that do not receive those services. It takes effect immediately and would apply statewide to the local government structures covered by the bill.
Impact
The bill would add a new section 120-dd to the General Municipal Law and limit the authority of municipalities and joint districts to levy district-related charges on certain properties. It would affect local finance and assessment practices in cities, towns, villages, and joint water or sewer districts by excluding properties served by private wells or septic systems from such charges. The measure would likely reduce the revenue base available to water and sewer districts and could shift costs to connected users or other funding sources.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no documented debate or recorded support/opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a property-owner protection bill aimed at preventing charges for services not used, which suggests a consumer- and homeowner-friendly intent. However, the absence of discussion and voting history means overall sentiment cannot be reliably measured from the available record.
Contention
The main point of contention would likely be whether local governments should be allowed to spread the costs of water and sewer infrastructure across all properties within a district, even those using private wells or septic systems, versus limiting charges only to properties that directly benefit from the service. Supporters would likely emphasize fairness for rural and semi-rural property owners who maintain their own systems, while opponents may argue that district infrastructure provides broader public benefits or that excluding these properties could undermine district financing and cost allocation.
Prohibits any city, town, quasi-municipal corporation or public corporation from assessing any existing agricultural operation or agricultural land for the extension of any water utilities past the property and from imposing any connection fee.
Prohibits any city, town, quasi-municipal corporation or public corporation from assessing any existing agricultural operation or agricultural land for the extension of any water utilities past the property and from imposing any connection fee.
Prohibits any city, town, quasi-municipal corporation or public corporation from assessing any existing agricultural operation or agricultural land for the extension of any water utilities past the property and from imposing any connection fee.
Permit the town of East Greenwich to deny issuance or renewal of licenses or permits for properties on which the taxes and/or assessments are in arrears.
Permit the town of East Greenwich to deny issuance or renewal of licenses or permits for properties on which the taxes and/or assessments are in arrears.
Modifies interest rates and accrual of interest on certain unpaid water and sewer utility bills and delinquent municipal taxes, assessments, and other municipal liens and charges.
Modifies interest rates and accrual of interest on certain unpaid water and sewer utility bills and delinquent municipal taxes, assessments, and other municipal liens and charges.