What's happening
This bill allows the Wilton water and sewer authority to place unpaid fees as liens on properties.
Why it matters
Directly impacts property owners in the Town of Wilton who use or benefit from water and sewer services. , by making unpaid fees attach to their property as liens, which could ultimately lead to foreclosure if not resolved.
Creates a stronger enforcement mechanism than previous collection methods. by giving these utility charges the same legal priority as property taxes (except for taxes and assessments themselves), making it significantly harder for property owners to avoid payment.
Aligns Wilton with practices in other municipalities and could improve the financial stability of the local water and sewer authority. , since it ensures unpaid charges are eventually collected via the annual tax rolls, potentially reducing unpaid debts and shifting some administrative responsibility to the town’s tax collection system.
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Who cares
Town of Wilton Water and Sewer Authority
Gains a stronger, more reliable mechanism to collect unpaid water and sewer charges by turning them into property liens, improving revenue stability.
Property Owners in Wilton
Face increased consequences for unpaid water and sewer bills, as arrears become liens on their properties and can lead to enforcement actions similar to unpaid property taxes.
Town of Wilton Tax Office and Receiver of Taxes
Assumes new administrative responsibilities to add unpaid water/sewer charges to property tax rolls, collect those amounts, and handle the distribution of funds and penalties.
Mortgage Holders and Lenders
Have a vested interest because municipal liens for unpaid water and sewer charges could affect the priority of their claims on properties and increase their risk exposure.
Headline styles
Add Water Fees to Tax Bills
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
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.
Make Water Bills Property Liens
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Carrie Woerner
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10311
IN SENATE
May 12, 2026
Introduced by Sen. TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to method of collection of charges by the town of Wilton water and sewer authority
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 1125-a to read as follows:
§ 1125-a. Charges by authority; method of collection. All rates, fees and other charges for the use or availability of the facilities or services or commodities provided or made available by the authority and billed directly by the authority to the user or service recipient pursuant to a classification of person adopted by the authority as herein provided shall be a lien upon the real property upon which, or in connection with which, services are provided or are made available, as and from the first date fixed for a payment of such rates, fees and other charges. Any such lien shall take precedence over all other liens, or encumbrances, except taxes or assessments. The chief financial officer of the authority shall prepare and transmit to the receiver of taxes and assessments, on or before the first day of November in each year, a list of those properties using such facilities or for which such facilities, services or commodities were provided or made available and from which the payment of rates, fees and other charges are in arrears for a period of ninety days or more after the last day fixed for payment of such rates, fees and other charges without penalty. The list shall contain a brief description of such properties, the names of the persons or corporations liable to pay for the same, and the amount chargeable to each, including penalties and interest, as applicable, computed to December thirty-first of that year. The receiver of taxes and assessments shall levy such sums against the properties liable and shall state the amount thereof in a separate column in the annual tax rolls of the town under the heading "water charge". Such amounts, excluding penalties and interest imposed by the town when collected by the town collector or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14076-01-5
receiver of taxes, shall be paid over to the chief financial officer of the authority. Town imposed penalties and interest shall be retained by the town collector or receiver of taxes which shall become a part of the general funds of the town. All of the provisions of the tax law of the state governing enforcement and collection of unpaid taxes or assessments for special improvements not inconsistent herewith shall apply to the collection of such unpaid rates, rentals, fees and other charges.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to method of collection of charges by the town of Wilton water and sewer authority
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill provides that the town of Wilton water and sewer authority may collect charges, fees and rates on its services that are in arrears for more than ninety days by adding such charges as a lien on real property, which will be transmitted to the receiver of taxes and assessments to be levied against the property on an annual basis, payable with the proper- ty's annual property taxes.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 creates a new section 1125-a of the public authorities law permitting the town of Wilton water and sewer authority to receive annu- al payment of overdue charges through the annual property tax collection.
Section 2 provides an effective date.
Justification
Each year the town of Wilton water and sewer authority writes off thou- sands of dollars in uncollected water and sewer rates, fees and charges due to nonpayment of water bills. Such uncollected rates and charges automatically become a lien on the property which are usually only paid upon the sale of the property, causing the town to wait for long periods of time before it can collect such payment. This bill would allow the town to collect overdue water and sewer payments annually as part of the payment of property taxes. Several other water authorities in New York, including Suffolk and Great Neck North, are currently authorized to collect unpaid water bills in this manner.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None for the state, will allow the town of Wilton to collect unpaid water bills in an efficient and timely manner.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.