What's happening
This bill authorizes Southampton to assess local property owners for costs and issue bonds for constructing underground utility improvements.
Why it matters
Shifts the financial burden directly to property owners who benefit. The costs of constructing or reconstructing underground utility improvements will be assessed specifically on those property owners the town deems to be especially benefited, rather than spreading the cost town-wide. This could significantly impact property owners in the designated improvement district.
Empowers the town to finance large infrastructure upgrades. By authorizing the issuance of bonds and notes for up to 30 years, Southampton can undertake substantial projects to move utility lines underground, which can be expensive but may improve reliability, aesthetics, and safety.
Expands what can be financed with public debt. The bill allows bond funds to cover not just the physical undergrounding of power and communication lines, but also related costs such as new equipment, acquiring land or easements, and the incidental costs of transferring lines, potentially leading to more comprehensive infrastructure improvements.
Establishes a legal framework that supersedes conflicting town laws. If there’s any conflict between this act and existing town law articles, this act takes precedence, providing clear authority for Southampton to proceed with these projects and assessments without ambiguity.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Southampton to Fund Utilities
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by S5466
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.393
- Rules report cal.393
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to local governments
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Southampton to Issue Bonds
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 5466 A. 7396
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
May 1, 2019
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend chapter 399 of the laws of 2017, relating to authorizing the town of Southampton, Suffolk county, to establish an underground utility improvement district, in relation to the issuance of bonds and notes of the town of Southampton, in the county of Suffolk, for the construction or reconstruction of underground utilities and related facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1 of chapter 399 of the laws of 2017, relating to authorizing the town of Southampton, Suffolk county, to establish an underground utility improvement district, is amended to read as follows:
Section 1. (a) The town of Southampton, in the county of Suffolk, is hereby authorized to establish an underground utility improvement district pursuant to articles 12 and 12-A of the town law. Such underground utility improvement district shall be established, funded, operated and otherwise controlled by the provisions of articles 12 and 12-A of the town law and the provisions of this act. To the extent that the provisions of this act shall in any way be in conflict with articles 12 and 12-A of the town law, the provisions of this act shall be controlling.
(b) The costs and expenses of the town of Southampton underground utility improvement district shall be borne by local assessment upon the several lots and parcels of land which the town board shall determine and specify to be especially benefited by the improvement, and the town board shall apportion and assess upon and collect from the several lots
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11117-03-9
S. 5466 2 A. 7396
and parcels of land so deemed benefited, so much upon and from each as shall be in just proportion to the amount of benefit which the improvement shall confer upon the same.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of section 11.00 of the local finance law to the contrary, the town of Southampton is hereby authorized to issue bonds and notes for the construction or reconstruction of underground conduits and related facilities for the protection of public or municipal utility transmission lines, including but not limited to electrical power distribution and communication lines, including furnishings, machinery, equipment, apparatus, appurtenances, land or rights-in-land, and the costs of and incidental to the transfer of such lines from above ground to such conduits and related facilities. Such issuance shall be authorized for a period of probable usefulness not to exceed 30 years, which shall apply to the object or purpose set forth in this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.