Seneca County lawmakers will consider a nearly $4.1 million financial commitment this week aimed at getting the county’s newly created Water and Sewer Authority off the ground.
A special meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ Ways and Means Committee is scheduled for June 4, with members expected to review a proposal that would provide more than $2 million in grant funding over five years and a separate $2 million interest-free loan to support the authority’s startup operations and capital needs.
The proposal represents the latest step in a process that began in 2021 when county officials authorized a study to examine opportunities for coordinated countywide water and sewer services. That study, completed in 2022, recommended creating a countywide authority to oversee and coordinate infrastructure needs across Seneca County.
County leaders subsequently sought state legislation to establish the authority. The Seneca County Water and Sewer Authority Act was approved by the state Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul in November 2024, formally creating the entity.
Under the resolution, the county would provide grant funding totaling approximately $2.07 million over five years. Funding would begin with $215,875 in 2026 and increase annually to $486,713 by 2030. Officials say the authority’s board has developed a multi-year financial plan that anticipates county assistance during its formative years.
The proposal also includes a $2 million loan carrying no interest and a 10-year repayment term. Repayment would not begin until after the authority records three consecutive fiscal years of positive operating cash flow, as verified through external financial audits.
County officials argue the authority serves a critical public purpose by supporting water and sewer infrastructure, which they say is essential to public health, public safety and economic development throughout Seneca County.
If approved, the resolution would authorize the county manager to finalize an intermunicipal agreement with the authority and direct the finance department to make the necessary budget adjustments. The initial disbursement would be required by June 30.
The proposal comes as local governments across the Finger Lakes continue grappling with aging water and sewer systems, rising infrastructure costs and increasing pressure to coordinate regional utility planning.
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